SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Prosecutions

David Burrowes: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service has spent to keep victims informed of prosecution decisions since 2002.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) keeps victims informed of prosecution decisions by writing to victims when key decisions are taken, by meeting victims in serious cases, and through the work of Witness Care Units (WCU), which provide information and support to victims and other witnesses. Detailed information on the costs of these activities is not available. A comprehensive review of the resources dedicated to victim and witness care is to take place in 2009-10.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Members: Allowances

Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much it cost to process hon. Members' applications for expenses in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The direct staff cost of processing hon. Members' claims is forecast to be some £1.2 million for 2008-09. This does not include IT or accommodation costs which cannot be disaggregated to this level.

Parliament: Visits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the maximum number of tours of Parliament organised through the central tours office is that may take place on each day from Monday to Friday during sitting periods.

Nick Harvey: During sitting periods the number of tour slots each day is as follows:
	Mondays, 38
	Tuesdays, 38
	Wednesdays, 38 (15 full tours, 23 Lords end only)
	Thursdays, 0
	Fridays, sitting (either House) 24, Non sitting 92

Parliament: Visits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission which individuals have booked tours of Parliament through the central tours office in the last four weeks.

Nick Harvey: Information can be provided on the categories of individuals sponsoring tours. To maximise capacity, small groups can sometimes be combined, thus accommodating additional groups. Therefore the total number of tour groups accommodated usually exceeds the number of slots available, as illustrated:
	
		
			  Bookings made, by sponsor, for the period 2 March to 31 March inclusive 
			   Number of tour slots  Small group additions to tours  Total number of groups accommodated 
			 Number  Percentage 
			 Members of House of Commons 591 440 1,031 91 
			 Members of House of Lords 43 13 56 5 
			 Officers of either House 17 10 27 2 
			 Central Tours Office 10 1 11 1 
			 Staff of either House 7 4 11 1 
			 Total 668 468 1,136 100

Parliament: Visits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much advance notice is required to book a tour of Parliament through the central tours office.

Nick Harvey: On the first working day of each new month, booking opens for the month six months ahead, e.g. on 1 April the spreadsheet for October will be opened. Slots within a new month are usually booked close to capacity within two to three weeks of that month becoming available.

Parliament: Visits

Geraldine Smith: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission which categories of people are able to book tours of Parliament through the central tours office.

Nick Harvey: The following categories of people are able to book tours:
	Members and Officers of both Houses
	Permanent staff of either House for work purposes (expressed in the regulations as "where there is a clear business need, i.e. not for personal guests")
	Central Tours Office—if the group is clearly one which Parliament would wish to host, such as direct requests from ministries, overseas parliamentarians, civil service training.

SCOTLAND

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the objectives are of his forthcoming visit to China.

Ann McKechin: To support Scottish Council for Development and Industry members in winning business in this growing economy.

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the objectives of his forthcoming visit to China.

Ann McKechin: My right hon. Friend has had discussions with various colleagues about his visit to China and UKTI have been closely involved in its planning and support in China.

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his decision to join the Scottish Council for Development and Industry's trade delegation to China was taken.

Ann McKechin: Discussions have been ongoing with SCDI on support to their overseas trade delegations. Earlier this year they asked my right hon. Friend to lead their delegation to China.

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on which date his travel to and from China as part of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry's trade delegation was booked.

Ann McKechin: Ministerial travel is booked at the appropriate time having regard to the visit itinerary and other diary commitments.

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many  (a) officials and  (b) special advisers will accompany him on his forthcoming visit to China; and what budget has been allocated for the visit.

Ann McKechin: Two civil servants and one special adviser. Funding for the visit has been allocated from the budget of the Scotland Office in the normal way to support my right hon. Friend's responsibilities.

China

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he received from the Scottish Council for Development and Industry on joining its forthcoming trade delegation to China.

Ann McKechin: SCDI requested that my right hon. Friend lead their trade mission to China.

Christmas

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff  (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and  (b) Christmas bonus payments.

Ann McKechin: Staff in the Scotland Office are seconded from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice and the Office follows the policies of the parent Departments regarding leave entitlements and bonus arrangements.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office obtains its cleaning services through central procurement contracts set up by the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice. As part of the procurement process, any specific requirements for using ethically sourced cleaning products would be for the Executive or the Ministry of Justice to consider.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in his Department  (a) were disciplined and  (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: No staff were disciplined or had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in the last 12 months.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 3W, on departmental surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of the staff survey undertaken by his Department in 2007.

Ann McKechin: A copy of the Scotland Office staff survey published in 2007 has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many training courses civil servants in his Department undertook in each of the last three years; and what the cost of such training was in each year.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office encourages all staff to undertake learning and development activities. The majority of opportunities are provided through the Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Justice at no direct cost to the Office; but where the training need is still not available within central Government, external training courses may be considered.
	The Office incurred the following direct expenditure:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 13,370 
			 2006-07 13,969 
			 2007-08 14,041 
		
	
	The Office does not maintain a central record of all training courses attended by staff.

Olympic Games 2012

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on Scotland's involvement in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and if he will make a statement.

Ann McKechin: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with the First Minister on Scotland's involvement in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	In the last couple of months I have met separately with Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics and John Armitt, Chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority to discuss how Scotland can contribute to a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Business: Crime

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with organisations representing business on  (a) business crime and  (b) recording business crimes separately.

Ian Pearson: Government policy to tackle crime against business, including whether such crime should be recorded separately is overseen by the Home Office. This Department works with the Home Office to inform the policy. BERR is represented on the joint Government/Industry National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG). Officials have had conversations in partnership with the Home Office with a number of national and sector-specific trade bodies.

Business: Government Assistance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department takes to ensure the co-ordination of its support for business with that provided by local councils and chambers of commerce.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 9 February 2009
	In order to strengthen co-ordination of business support, we have introduced 'Solutions for Business'—a streamlined portfolio of publicly funded support products. This has been delivered through the Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP). The BSSP has been overseen by a board which includes the Local Government Association, business representative bodies, a range of Government Departments and regional development agencies (RDAs). This Department and the RDAs have worked very closely with local authorities and business groups to deliver this streamlined, co-ordinated offer to businesses.
	The RDAs deliver this Department's business support and co-ordinate efforts to help business, bringing together regional and local partners, including local authorities and Chambers of Commerce, and the private sector. They also manage Business Link, the access route to all forms of business and skills support, including 'Solutions for Business'. In each region Business Link works with local authorities and business representative groups, including Chambers of Commerce.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) meetings and  (b) correspondence on Heathrow expansion which (i) he, (ii) other Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have had with representatives from (A) BAA, (B) trades unions, (C) airlines using Heathrow, (D) other corporate bodies and (E) residents from communities affected by Heathrow expansion since 3 October 2008; when each meeting took place; who attended each meeting; and what the subject of each meeting was.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 29 January 2009
	Ministers and officials within the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform have not held meetings specifically on Heathrow expansion. However, they have held a number of meetings with business organisations where Heathrow was discussed as part of a broader conversation.
	In addition, between 3 October 2008 and 26 January 2009, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform received correspondence about Heathrow airport from local residents, businesses and business organisations. This included a letter from the chief executive of BAA on 3 October 2008 to Lord Mandelson.

JUSTICE

Bail Accommodation and Support Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when he expects the protocol governing the consultation process between Clearsprings Management Limited and local authorities with regard to its bail accommodation and support service accommodation to be completed; and when he will publish it;
	(2)  from which local authorities his Department has received complaints regarding the consultation process used by Clearsprings Management for the selection of properties for its bail accommodation and support service.

David Hanson: I expect a joint working protocol for use between local authorities and ClearSprings to be finalised and available in April, subject to agreement by the Local Government Association.
	ClearSprings operate in 76 local authority areas and 10 London boroughs. No authorities have formally written but letters raising specific points of concern have been received by the Ministry of Justice from individual ward councillors in Enfield, Haringey, Lewisham, Middlesbrough, Pontypridd, St. Helens and Stockton-on-Tees and have been addressed. Local authorities recognise the value and need for accommodation and support in the community for those on bail and home detention curfew.

Latchmere House Prison

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the  (a) need for and  (b) timing of the installation of in-cell electricity in the residential blocks of HM Prison Latchmere House.

David Hanson: In-cell electricity is being developed and work is programmed to begin on site in February 2010 and be completed around September 2010. Work to replace alarms will be included in the project.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to change the regulatory system for donating to political parties to encourage smaller donations from a wider range of individuals.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1259W.
	There are no such plans. The Government believe it is for political parties to decide how to conduct their fundraising activities within the legislative framework. One potential option to change the legislative framework would be to introduce a cap on the level of permissible donations, and an associated increase in the amount of public funding available to parties. This option was put to the major political parties following the review conducted by Sir Hayden Phillips in 2007. However, the inter-party talks that followed that review did not result in agreement to proceed with the wider package of reforms that Sir Hayden recommended to the party funding legislation.
	The Government's White Paper, 'Party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom' (CM7329) considered the issues of donation caps and public funding in considerable detail. The Government believe that any arrangements for increased public funding and associated cap on donations would need to be considered carefully as part of a wider public debate. There would need to be clear support from both the public and political parties before such steps could be taken. It is not clear that such a broad consensus of support currently exists. However, the Government stand ready to continue that debate.

Prisons: Bullying

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what protocols and procedures are in operation within prisons to prevent persistent bullying.

David Hanson: Ministers, the National Offender Management Service and the Prison Officers' Association are collectively committed to ensuring that violence in prisons is not tolerated in any form and since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy. Since 2007 this has been applied to the contracted out estate. Under the national strategy, prisons are instructed to implement a local violence reduction strategy aimed at dealing with all forms of violence in their establishment. Strategies based on reducing violence rather than focusing specifically on bullying help to ensure a more holistic approach to antisocial behaviour that recognises the complexities of managing violence in prisons.
	Local strategies to manage violence include identifying problems specific to the establishment, such as bullying between prisoners. Strategies must involve regular analysis of problems such as identifying problem areas, formulating solutions and providing action plans to improve personal safety and reduce violence. All establishments, except open prisons, are required to undertake a cell-sharing risk assessment to inform cell allocation. The violence reduction strategy is due to be reviewed during 2009.

Protest: Video Recordings

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many criminal convictions were obtained on the basis of evidence from film of protests stored by the police in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on court proceedings does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, other than the description provided in the statute under which convictions are brought.

Wymott Prison: Manpower

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the number of prison officers at HM Prison Wymott.

David Hanson: In March 2008 the target staffing figures for all officers, prison officers, health care officers, physical education (PE) officers and dog handlers at Wymott prison was 221. In February 2009 this had risen to 225, which consisted of an additional PE officer and three additional dog handler officers. We keep this under review.

TRANSPORT

Road Traffic: Accidents

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of accidents on trunk roads caused by vehicles travelling between 50 and 60 miles per hour in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Highways Agency uses validated police accident data to inform its analysis and investigation into accidents occurring on the trunk road network. This data tells us that in the three years 2005 to 2007, speed was adjudged to be a contributory factor in 227 out of 1,120 deaths on trunk roads (20 per cent). However, the data does not include details of the travelling speed of vehicles prior to accidents occurring.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Badgers: Vaccination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of training personnel to trap and vaccinate badgers under the injectable badger vaccine deployment project.

Jane Kennedy: Costs for the injectable badger vaccine deployment project have not yet been finalised and will vary depending on the areas in which vaccination will take place, as well as other factors.

Fly Tipping: Prosecutions

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 858W, on fly-tipping: prosecutions, if he will provide equivalent figures for 2007-08.

Jane Kennedy: In 2007-08, local authorities and the Environment Agency reported 1,285,300 fly-tipping incidents on the Flycapture system ranging from single black bags to "significant multiple loads".
	1,969 prosecutions were taken against fly-tippers in 2007-08, 1,865 (95 per cent.) of which were successful.
	Prosecution figures only represent cases taken through the court system and do not reflect the wider range of enforcement actions available to local authorities.
	In 2007-08, local authorities also took an additional 179,122 enforcement actions against fly-tippers, consisting of warning letters, statutory notices, fixed penalty notices, formal cautions and injunctions.

Inland Waterways

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to assist British Waterways to encourage use of the canal network for  (a) leisure and  (b) freight transport in the summer months of 2009.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I support British Waterways in promoting the use of their waterways which deliver considerable public benefit. British Waterways' national marketing campaign "Yours to Enjoy" highlights the easy accessibility of the waterways to deliver a wide range of public benefits related to recreation.
	For example, the Kennet and Avon Canal which runs through the hon. Member's constituency, supports 1,000 leisure and tourism jobs. In addition to sustainable tourism such as hire-boating, the waterways also offer opportunities for green recreation close to home. Use of the towpaths for walking and cycling not only improves health but offers a viable and sustainable transport option which is sometimes overlooked.
	Later this month it will be my privilege to reopen the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, following a major programme of repairs by British Waterways. This canal plays a significant role in the local economy and together with the leisure businesses it supports it is a major tourism asset for Wales.
	Freight is more complex, relying as it does on the availability of both sources and destinations by water, the availability of suitable carriers and other considerations of costs and benefits specific to each traffic and waterway. I support British Waterways' efforts to develop niche freight opportunities on appropriate waterways, such as the larger rivers in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, and London's Olympic Park. I also support British Waterways' other activities to harness the network's potential to help us adapt to climate change, such as generating green renewable energy from wind and water.
	For the longer term British Waterways is intending to consult on its future strategy this summer and the Government are intending to consult on a new updated version of "Waterways for Tomorrow" later in the year.

Livestock: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research into public attitudes towards the use of livestock vaccination as a means of reducing the incidence of animal disease.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has no current plans to commission research into public attitudes towards the use of livestock vaccination. We do, however, have access to reports produced by other organisations. A recent survey carried out by The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) on behalf of NOAH (The National Office of Animal Health) reveals an increased consumer awareness of animal medicines. The survey also found that consumers have confidence in those working in the food chain to use animal medicines appropriately and produce safe food.
	Further details are available at the NOAH website.

Natural Gas: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps the Environment Agency is taking to investigate the circumstances of the spillage at the Canvey Island Calor Gas site on 15 October 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions the Environment Agency has had with Calor Gas following recent spillages at Calor Gas's Canvey Island site.

Jane Kennedy: The Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are the joint competent authority for the site. The incident on the 15 October 2008 involved the spillage of liquid petroleum gas following the failure of pipework. The Environment Agency and the HSE agreed that the HSE would lead the investigation with assistance from the Environment Agency if required.
	As a result of the HSE led investigation, the Environment Agency has not entered into discussions with the company concerning the specific circumstances surrounding the spillage. However, the Environment Agency continues to undertake its normal regulatory activities at the site.

Rabbits

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make an estimate of changes in the wild rabbit population in the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Rabbit populations can fluctuate widely from year to year especially at the local level. However, the most recent mammal data from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust National Gamebag Census indicates that the trend for the UK rabbit population is a decline of 19 per cent. for the period 2002-07.

Renewable Energy: Waste

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what circumstances  (a) commercial and  (b) household waste is regarded as a source of energy; what proportion of such waste streams were regarded as energy sources in 2008; and what assessment he has made of the effect of classification of waste as an energy source on (i) waste collection authorities, (ii) private sector waste contractors and (iii) commercial waste producers.

Jane Kennedy: The Government do not classify waste in this way. Many types of waste, including paper, wood and plastics, are capable of being either recycled or used to generate energy. Recycling is the generally preferred option because the energy saved from avoiding the use of virgin material is greater than that contained in the waste, although there are some exceptions. Residual waste for which no practical re-use or recycling opportunities exist will therefore be a candidate for energy from waste treatment. In 2007, 5,172,000 tonnes of waste were incinerated for energy recovery purposes. These figures are not available for 2008.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are employed on  (a) construction and  (b) development of Olympic venues (i) in London and (ii) elsewhere.

Tessa Jowell: The latest figures published in January 2009 showed that there are 3,315 people working on the Olympic Park in London. The Olympic Delivery Authority expects that 30,000 people in total will be employed on the Olympic Park and the Village over the life of the project. This number will peak at 11,000 in 2010.
	The construction of the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (WPSNA) is already complete. Work to enhance the WPSNA began in March 2008 and was completed in November 2008—the first venue completed for the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games. During this period 115 people were employed in construction on the site.
	Eton Dorney, Broxbourne and the shooting venue at Woolwich are yet to be constructed and will provide further employment opportunities.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to review the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as a matter of good practice, intends to review the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act as soon as resources allow.

National Lottery: Grants

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery funding has been awarded to organisations in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Barbara Follett: Full details of lottery funding for organisations in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997 can be found at the National Lottery Grants Database:
	http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/

Regeneration: Coastal Areas

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department has provided for the regeneration of seaside towns in each of the last three years; and what plans there are for such funding in the next funding round.

Barbara Follett: My Department's contribution to the Government's work in support of the regeneration of seaside towns is through the £45 million (£15 million per annum over the next three years) Sea Change Programme. This has only been in place since 1 April 2008, but £29.3 million has been made available for regeneration of seaside towns through this initiative since then as set out in the table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Grant allocated (£) 
			 2008-09 14,610,980 
			 2009-10 14,665,500 
			 Total allocated to date 29,276,480 
		
	
	It is too early to announce plans for public expenditure beyond 2011.

Video Games

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to publish the results of his Department's video games consultation.

Barbara Follett: We expect to publish the results shortly.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Jobseeker's Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he has allocated for expenditure on income-based jobseeker's allowance in the next three years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 March 2009
	Most benefits, including income-based jobseeker's allowance, are managed through Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). AME is public expenditure for which multi-year spending limits are not seen as appropriate, and which is instead subject to regular review.
	Available information on future jobseeker's allowance expenditure up to 2010-11 is shown in the table, taken from the forecasts published at the Pre-Budget Report in November. The figures will be updated after the Budget on 22 April 2009.
	
		
			  Forecast JSA Expenditure 
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 2,067 
			 2009-10 3,250 
			 2010-11 3,804 
			  Source: DWP website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/Alltables_PBR2008_rounded.xls?x=1

New Deal Schemes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training for employment officers his Department plans to provide to external providers of the Flexible New Deal; and what budget has been allocated for this training.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 11 March 2009
	 The successful flexible new deal providers will be contracted to deliver their own service delivery model, involving support tailored to the needs of each individual.
	As such employment officer status will be an integral part of contractors' job roles and it will be the employer's responsibility to provide and fund any necessary training. The same situation applies in current new deal contracts and employment zones.
	Responsibility for the customer's continuing entitlement to jobseeker's allowance will remain the responsibility of Jobcentre Plus.

Pensions Ombudsman

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Pensions Ombudsman requires relevant case evidence to be submitted before it may exercise its discretion not to investigate cases.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 25 February 2009
	The Pensions Ombudsman will seek such evidence as he considers necessary to determine whether or not to investigate a complaint.

Welfare Tax Credits

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many hardship payment awards his Department has made  (a) in each region and  (b) at each payment level in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many hardship payment awards his Department has made in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Kitty Ussher: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how many hardship payment awards his Department has made (a) in each region and (b) at each payment level in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available and how many hardship payment awards his Department has made in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus has management information relating to Jobseeker's Allowance hardship payments. However, this information is not available prior to July 2002. The information held does not distinguish between the payment levels. The available data is attached at Annex 1.
	 Annex 1
	
		
			  JSA  hardship awards  made 
			   2008  2009 
			   Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan 
			 Jobcentre Plus National 3,230 2,582 3,106 2,899 3,068 3,235 2,701 3,040 3,090 2,881 2,911 2,990 
			 East Midlands 166 127 136 120 156 137 113 108 144 144 190 148 
			 East of England 178 175 174 210 172 210 146 199 178 178 140 175 
			 London 399 285 357 246 308 272 304 310 314 296 319 279 
			 North East 240 181 233 219 206 258 216 206 203 181 172 239 
			 North West 370 327 320 358 427 384 337 344 341 329 375 363 
			 Scotland 327 266 361 305 430 339 318 327 392 338 396 369 
			 South East 405 209 245 197 161 229 186 243 184 218 233 242 
			 South West 280 219 243 242 235 341 291 300 255 265 249 376 
			 Wales 212 180 255 217 205 212 155 181 137 120 153 121 
			 West Midlands 240 274 248 257 282 296 277 364 401 335 310 262 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 413 339 534 528 486 557 358 458 541 477 374 416 
		
	
	
		
			  National JSA Hardship Awards made in the years ending March 
			   Number 
			 2003(1) 47,425 
			 2004 49,737 
			 2005 43,518 
			 2006 38,129 
			 2007 28,956 
			 2008 32,222 
			 2009(2) 29,921 
			 (1) From July 2002 (2) To January 2009  Source: Management Information System Platform

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Jackal armoured vehicle in protecting frontline service personnel in Afghanistan from blasts.

Quentin Davies: The Jackal is a highly mobile weapons platform which has been subject to detailed technical assessment. While we believe that Jackal is appropriately protected given its role and the threats it faces, I cannot comment on the specific levels of protection, as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Pay

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report for 2009 will be published; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the report.

John Hutton: The 2009 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) will be published shortly. It is right that Ministers take time before this important report is published to consider carefully their response.

Armed Forces: Pay

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Armed Forces Pay Review Body report for 2009 was submitted to the Prime Minister.

John Hutton: The 2009 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body was submitted to the Prime Minister on 29 January.

Armed Forces: Religion

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military chaplains there were in each of the armed services in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides the number of military chaplains in each of the armed services as at 1 April for each of the last five years:
	
		
			   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Naval Service 70 70 70 70 (1)60 
			 Army 150 150 150 (1)150 (1)150 
			 Royal Air Force 80 80 70 70 (1)60 
			 (1) Provisional 
		
	
	Due to ongoing validation of data from the Joint Personnel Administration System, Army strength statistics from 1 April 2007, and Naval Service and RAF strength statistics from 1 May 2007 are provisional and subject to review.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the assessment phase for the Future Rapid Effects System Scout vehicle to conclude.

Quentin Davies: The assessment phase of a project is the period during which a range of options to meet the requirement are examined and tested. The phase will not end until the evidence is sufficiently mature to allow a decision to be made on the option to be taken forward. It is not possible to be precise in advance about when this point will be reached but I hope it can conclude before the end of this year.

Colombia: Politics and Government

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	The security situation in Colombia has improved over recent years, in particular in Colombia's main urban centres. Violent crime and kidnappings have reduced. But serious threats to security and therefore the human rights of all Colombians remain, especially in those areas where illegal armed groups are active. We regularly call on the Government of Colombia to address these areas of concern.

Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been admitted to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court  (a) in each year since 2005 and  (b) in each of the last 14 months.

Kevan Jones: The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court records the total number of patient episodes, which is the number of collated reviews for individual patients, as well as new patient referrals. The total numbers of such episodes over the last five financial years up to 28 February are provided in the following table. These figures include patient episodes at both the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre itself and the London and Overseas Regional Rehabilitation Unit which is also based at Headley Court.
	
		
			   In-patients  Out-patients  Total 
			 2004-05 1,544 2,913 4,457 
			 2005-06 1,408 3,093 4,501 
			 2006-07 1,685 4,219 5,904 
			 2007-08 1,885 5,000 6,885 
			 2008-09 1,830 5,669 7,499 
		
	
	Details over the last 14 months are provided as follows.
	
		
			   In-patients  Out-patients  Total 
			 January 2008 163 499 662 
			 February 2008 166 513 679 
			 March 2008 148 470 618 
			 April 2008 128 554 682 
			 May 2008 113 445 558 
			 June 2008 174 530 704 
			 July 2008 206 479 685 
			 August 2008 176 396 572 
			 September 2008 161 461 622 
			 October 2008 157 520 677 
			 November 2008 141 548 689 
			 December 2008 55 357 412 
			 January 2009 124 528 652 
			 February 2009 113 461 574 
		
	
	Patient referrals cover a wide range of injuries. Over the period covered by these statistics, there has been an increase in military operational tempo. This has led to an increase in patient activity overall and a more complex patient cohort requiring repeat admission to Headley Court. There have also been changes in the balance between the numbers of patients requiring a ward bed and those who do not, including an increase in specialist clinics such as consultant-led visiting clinics and prosthetic clinics. However, it continues to be the case that most cases treated at Headley Court have not resulted from current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 236W, on Navy: deployment, what the outcome was of the conference in London held on 13 March on contingency options directed at countering arms smuggling into Gaza; and what decisions have been made on the UK's contribution to such operations.

Bob Ainsworth: In response to concerns over the flow of weapons to the Gaza Strip, the nations represented at the London Conference on tackling arms smuggling into Gaza agreed and published a 'Program of Action'. This initiative seeks to enhance efforts to prevent and interdict the illicit trafficking of arms, ammunition and weapon component to Gaza and, within the relevant jurisdictions prevent the facilitation of such transfers. A range of options is available for participating governments to consider, including the sharing of information and intelligence, co-ordinated diplomatic engagement and co-ordinating military and law enforcement activities.
	The UK continues to explore a number of contingency options to support this initiative and will attend further meetings of participating states.

Monuments: Bury

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Lutyens war memorial in Bury to be replaced with an alternative structure; whether he plans to consult publicly on the form of that replacement; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence does officially commemorate the final resting place of all those who die in service and the UK Government contributes close to £40 million each year towards the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to mark and maintain the graves, and the official memorials for those who have no known grave, of some 1.7 million Commonwealth service personnel who died during the two World Wars.
	However, the Department does not have the responsibility for war memorials. This responsibility rests with the owner of the memorial, which, in the case of the Lutyens War Memorial in Bury, is the Trustees of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum, an independent charity.

Navy: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required strength,  (b) actual strength and  (c) percentage shortfall is in each trade in the Royal Navy.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table provides information on the liability and actual trained strength as at 1 February 2009 for each trade/specialisation for both officers and ratings/other ranks.
	
		
			  February 2009 
			   Branch  Specialisation  Liability  Regular strength  Surplus/  Deficit (%)  FTRS  Total inc. FTRS  Surplus/  Deficit (%) 
			  Officers  Warfare Air Traffic Controller 80 80 2 0 80 2 
			   Aviator 50 60 23 0 60 23 
			   Communications 30 50 64 0 50 64 
			   Fighter Controller 40 50 11 0 50 11 
			   Electronic Warfare 20 30 74 0 30 74 
			   RN Police 20 20 8 (1)— 20 14 
			   Hydrographer/Metographer 190 160 -13 10 170 -10 
			   Mine Clearance Diver/Mine Warfare 110 130 20 (1)— 140 23 
			   Pilot 430 500 16 (1)— 510 17 
			   Observer 480 350 -27 (1)— 350 -26 
			   Observer or Pilot (1)— 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			   Principle Warfare Officer 480 550 14 10 560 16 
			   General Service Warfare 290 440 51 10 450 53 
			   Submariner 320 320 1 (1)— 320 2 
			   Other (1)— 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			   Any Warfare 370 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			  Warfare Total  2,920 2,750 -6 40 2,780 -4 
			  
			   Engineers Air Engineer 290 310 7 (1)— 310 7 
			   Information Systems 80 80 -3 (1)— 80 -2 
			   Information Systems (Submariner) (1)— (1)— 50 0 (1)— 50 
			   Training Manager 200 220 9 10 220 12 
			   Training Manager (Submariner) 10 20 217 0 20 217 
			   Marine Engineer 250 330 30 (1)— 340 32 
			   Marine Engineer (Submariner) 250 270 7 0 270 8 
			   Weapons Engineer 370 430 17 (1)— 430 18 
			   Weapons Engineer (Submariner) 200 220 13 (1)— 220 14 
			   Any General Service Engineer 50 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			   Any Submariner Engineer 20 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			   Any Engineer/No Spec 40 0 n/a (1)— (1)— n/a 
			  Engineers Total  1,750 1,880 7 20 1,900 9 
			  
			   Logistics Barrister 20 30 26 0 30 26 
			   Chartered Management Accountant 10 20 128 0 20 128 
			   Any Logistics/No Specialisation 520 410 -20 10 420 -19 
			   Logistics Submariner 20 100 315 0 100 315 
			   Family Services (1)— (1)— -75 0 (1)— -75 
			  Logistics Total  580 560 -3 10 560 -2 
			  
			   Royal Marines General Service 720 640 -12 90 720 0 
			   BS 10 10 12 0 10 12 
			  Royal Marines Total  730 650 -11 90 740 0 
			  
			  Doctors  240 260 9 0 260 9 
			  Dentists  60 60 -5 (1)— 60 -3 
			  Queen Alexandra Royal Naval Nursing Service  100 80 -16 _ 80 -16 
			  Medical Services  60 60 -4 (1)— 60 -2 
			  Chaplains  80 60 -17 0 60 -17 
			  Careers  (1)— (1)— 0 (1)— (1)— 100 
			  Inter Branch Trainees  _ 30 n/a 0 30 n/a 
			  Officers Total   6,520 6,400 -2 160 6,560 1 
			  
			   Warfare General Service Warfare Specialisation 960 1,060 11 0 1,060 11 
			   Above Water Tactical 510 450 -12 10 450 -11 
			   Above Water Warfare 420 370 -12 10 380 -11 
			   Electronic Warfare 240 200 -16 0 200 -16 
			   Underwater Warfare 230 220 -7 (1)— 220 -6 
			   Communications Information Systems 1,050 1,020 -3 10 1,030 -2 
			   Hydrographer/Metographer 100 90 -7 0 90 -7 
			   Mine Warfare 320 310 -3 (1)— 310 -2 
			   Diver 300 300 -3 (1)— 300 -2 
			   Seaman 850 690 -18 (1)— 700 -18 
			   Survey Recorder 50 50 -3 0 50 -3 
			   Weapons Analyst (1)— (1)— 28 0 (1)— 28 
			   Physical Training Instructor 220 220 -2 (1)— 220 0 
			   RN police 280 270 -3 20 280 2 
			   Telephonists (1)— (1)— -50 0 (1)— -50 
			   Communications Technician 250 260 4 (1)— 260 4 
			  Warfare General Service Total  5,780 5,510 -5 50 5,560 -4 
			  
			   Warfare Aviation Aircrew man 110 140 25 (1)— 140 26 
			   Naval Airman (Aircraft Controller) 150 110 -25 (1)— 120 -24 
			   Naval Airman (Aircraft Handler) 440 420 -5 0 420 -5 
			   Naval Airman (Metographer) 70 70 6 0 70 6 
			   Naval Airman (Photographer) 100 90 -8 0 90 -8 
			   No Spec 0 (1)— n/a 0 (1)— n/a 
			  Warfare Aviation Total  870 830 -4 (1)— 840 -4 
			  
			   Warfare Submariner Coxswain Submariner 40 40 8 0 40 8 
			   Sensors Submariner 370 330 -11 (1)— 330 -10 
			   Tactical Submariner 250 230 -10 (1)— 230 -9 
			   Communications Information Systems Submariner 250 210 -16 (1)— 210 -15 
			  Warfare Submariner Total  910 810 -11 10 820 -10 
			  
			   Engineering General Service Weapons Engineering Technician/Mechanic/Artificer 2,050 2,050 0 10 2,050 0 
			   Marine Engineering Technician/Mechanic/Artificer 3,270 3,070 -6 (1)— 3,070 -6 
			   Education Training & Support 10 (1)— -4 0 (1)— -4 
			   Any Engineer GS (1)— 0 n/a 0  n/a 
			  Engineering General Service Total  5,320 5,120 ¦4 10 5,130 -4 
			  
			   Engineering Submariner Weapons Engineering Technician/Mechanic/Artificer SM 840 880 5 20 890 7 
			   Marine Engineering Technician/Mechanic/Artificer SM 1,340 1,170 -13 40 1,210 -9 
			  Engineering Submariner Total  2,170 2,040 -6 60 2,100 -3 
			  
			   Engineering -Air Engineer Air Engineering Technician/Mechanic/Artificer 3,290 3,160 -4 10 3,170 -3 
			   Naval Airman (Safety Equipment) 180 170 -4 0 170 -4 
			  Engineering - Air Engineer Total  3,470 3,330 -4 10 3,350 -3 
			  
			   Logistics Catering Services (Preparation) 870 800 -8 10 810 -7 
			   Catering Services (Preparation) Submariner 110 140 24 0 140 24 
			   Catering Services (Delivery) 570 530 -8 (1)— 530 -8 
			   Catering Services (Delivery) Submariner 70 60 -9 _ 60 -9 
			   Catering Services - Any Personnel 10 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			   Personnel 860 830 -4 10 840 -3 
			   Personnel Submariner 50 60 13 0 60 13 
			   Supply Chain 660 630 -5 (1)— 640 -4 
			   Supply Chain Submariner 70 90 42 (1)— 100 45 
			   Family Services 30 20 -26 0 20 -26 
			   Any Logistics (1)— 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			  Logistics Total  3,310 3,170 -4 20 3,190 -4 
			  
			   Medical Dental Hygienist 20 10 -18 0 10 -18 
			   Dental Surgery Assistant 90 90 -2 0 90 -2 
			   Medical Assistant (General Service and Submariner) 650 660 1 0 660 1 
			   Naval Nurse 210 190 -10 0 190 -10 
			   Medical Technical 20 30 38 0 30 38 
			   Any Medical (1)— 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			  Medical Total  1,000 990 -1 0 990 -1 
			  
			   Royal Marines General Service 6,000 5,560 -7 110 5,660 -6 
			   Musician 270 260 -5 0 260 -5 
			   Bugler 60 60 -5 0 60 -5 
			  Royal Marines Total  6,330 5,870 -7 110 5,980 -6 
			  
			  Careers  (1)— 0 n/a 150 150 n/a 
			  
			  Any Branch/Spec  100 0 n/a 0 0 n/a 
			  
			  Inter Branch Trainees  0 150 n/a 0 150 n/a 
			  OR Total   29,260 27,810 -5 430 28,240 -3 
			 (1) = 5 or less than 5.  Notes: All figures rounded to nearest 10. Where figure ends in 5, figure rounded to nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Percentages are calculated on original unrounded figures. Some liability lines, such as "Any Warfare", can be filled from a range of different trades. This makes it impossible to show a one-to-one list of liability against strength split by trade. Not all filled posts count towards the liability (e.g. the 150 Careers Service FTRS Other Ranks all fill posts that are not included in the liability). Some trades (e.g. PWOs, MCD/MW) have been merged in the table where this makes comparison between strength and liability easier. Surpluses and deficits shown at branch/trade levels mask significant variations at branch levels. Inter-Branch trainees, trained people in one trade who are retraining for a new trade, count towards the total trained strength, but are not reported against any trade until they become trained in their new trade.

HEALTH

Care Homes: Standards

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to private nursing home providers on their statutory obligations towards nursing home residents in their care.

Phil Hope: All care and nursing homes, whether in the private, public or voluntary sectors, are required to comply with the Care Homes Regulations 2001 and to register with the regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).
	CSCI regulates care homes in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards, which govern the quality and safety of care and level of protection for residents. CSCI publishes a comprehensive range of guidance for providers of care on its website at:
	www.csci.org.uk/professional

Care Homes: Standards

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure extra resources are made available to publicly owned nursing homes and local primary care trusts where private nursing home providers withdraw their provision.

Phil Hope: It is for local authorities and the national health service to decide how to provide care in their areas, either through direct provision or by contracting with independent sector providers. Local authorities should ensure they have procedures in place to arrange care for residents if they have to move care homes for whatever reason and that capacity exists to deal with such eventualities.
	Councils have received record increases in funding—39 per cent. in real terms—since 1997. The increases, which will rise to 45 per cent. by 2010-11, mean local authorities have the resources they need to arrange care to meet the needs of their local communities.

Care Homes: Standards

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has compiled a list of approved private nursing care home providers.

Phil Hope: No. All care homes are required to register with the regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). Registration by CSCI signifies that a home meets statutory requirements governing quality and safety and is permitted to operate.

CJD: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will consider the introduction of a blood screening test for blood donors in place of blood filtering; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether family members of those who have died of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) are encouraged to take a blood screening test for vCJD; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will commission a prevalence study of EP-vCJD tests in the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will consider the introduction of EP-vCJD tests in routine blood donations; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: At present, there is no validated test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) on the market although the technology is under development. The expert Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs will assess options for further vCJD risk reduction measures, including prion filtration technology and screening tests, as further information becomes available, and will advise on their use. If a suitable vCJD blood screening test becomes available, the offer of such a test to individuals will be for agreement between the individual and their clinician.
	The Department will consider the use of validated tests for ascertaining the population prevalence of vCJD as they become available.

Dental Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have  (a) no,  (b) fewer than five,  (c) between five and 10 and  (d) 10 or more dentists accepting NHS patients.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. All primary care trusts (PCTs) run dental help lines. Patients who need help in finding a national health service dentist taking on new patients should contact their local PCT.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Ben Bradshaw: The change in the annual cost to the Department of maintaining empty buildings as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief for 2008-09 is £45,000.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Ben Bradshaw: In agreement with Her Majesty's Treasury, £100 million of the Department's Capital Expenditure Limit has been brought forward from 2010-11 for use in 2009-10. This is being used to upgrade up to 600 general practitioner surgeries to support training in practices.
	The Capital Expenditure Limit for 2008-09, and the Revenue Expenditure Limits for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are unchanged by any bring forward from later years.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Glaucoma: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people diagnosed with glaucoma there are in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The number of national health service sight tests, by patient eligibility, including 'Diabetics/Glaucoma sufferer'' is available in Table B3 of Annex C of the "General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales—year ending 31 March 2008 report".
	Information is provided by primary care trust (PCT) and by strategic health authority (SHA) but is not available by parliamentary constituency.
	This report, published on 20 November 2008, has been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/gosactivity0708p2
	The figures in the above table are not the number of people diagnosed as 'Diabetics/Glaucoma sufferer' but the number of NHS sight tests performed where the patient eligibility is recorded as 'Diabetes/Glaucoma sufferer' on the form.
	Patients may qualify for an NHS sight test on more than one criterion. However, they would only be recorded against one criterion on the form. Patients are more likely to be recorded according to their clinical need rather than their age. For example, a patient aged over 60, with glaucoma, is likely to be recorded in the glaucoma category only. The count by eligibility is therefore approximate.
	 Source:
	NHS Information Centre

Glaucoma: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on  (a) treatment of and  (b) support for people diagnosed with glaucoma in (i) Castle Point and (ii) Essex county in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that the services they commission meet the needs of the communities that they serve. This includes the commissioning of services for those people with glaucoma.

Health Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of changes to demand for NHS services as a result of the economic downturn.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Henley (John Howell) on 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 150.

Hospital Beds

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are in place to alleviate pressure on beds in the NHS caused by private nursing care home providers ending provision of services.

Phil Hope: It is for primary care trusts to work with local social services departments to arrange adequate services to provide for the needs of local people.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to report on Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for the introduction of the new arrangements for stoma and incontinence products under Part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The new arrangements for the provision of stoma and incontinence products and the timetable for their introduction will be announced in due course.

Peracetic Acid

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated research on the effectiveness of anti-microbial infection control products which generate peracetic acid; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of primary care trusts use products which generate peracetic acid to control healthcare-acquired infections.

Ann Keen: The Department has not commissioned research on the effectiveness of anti-microbial infection control products that generate peracetic acid.
	The Department's Rapid Review Panel has reviewed a peracetic acid generating wipe and awarded it a recommendation 3. This means that the product is a potentially useful new concept but insufficiently validated; more research and development is required before it is ready for evaluation in practice.
	The Department does not collect the information requested centrally. National health service bodies are free to choose which products to purchase and will maintain their own records.

vCJD

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those who participated in routine blood donations have died of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Transfusion Medicine Epidemiology Review, a collaborative project between the United Kingdom National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit and the United Kingdom Blood Services, records that since 1997 blood components have been issued from 17 blood donors who subsequently died of vCJD.

Wheelchairs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable he has set for  (a) responding to the consultation on wheelchair services undertaken as part of the review of the care services efficiency delivery retail model and  (b) establishing the new procurement strategy for children's equipment.

Phil Hope: Discussions are ongoing within the Department to agree the most appropriate way forward for wheelchair services. We expect these discussions to be concluded by the summer.
	The Department of Health, jointly with Department of Children Schools and Families, has commissioned work to develop a procurement strategy for children's equipment, which will report in the summer.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what her policy is on the circumstances under which the Government will provide time to debate private Members' Bills in Government time; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: Precedence in Government time is given to private Members' bills only very rarely. The last occasion recorded in the Sessional Returns was the Census (Amendment) Bill [ Lords] in 1999-2000.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House which private Members' Bills were taken up by a member of the Government when the Bills reached the second House in which they were to be considered in each session since 1997-98.

Chris Bryant: An exhaustive list of private Members' and Peers' bills which were taken up by the Government in the second House is not held centrally and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	I am aware of only one example of such a bill—the Forced Marriages (Civil Protection) Bill [ Lords], in Session 2006-07.
	In addition, the Census (Amendment) Bill [ Lords], though it was taken up by a private Member, was given precedence in Government time in Session 1999-2000.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Training

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) staff and  (b) ministerial away days have been organised by his Department since its inception; and what the cost was of such events.

Si�n Simon: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. Information on away days for employees is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the organisation of meetings outside the Department's buildings will be based on sound planning and, where accommodation costs and other charges are involved, our policies on appropriateness and value for money.
	There have been no ministerial away days since the inception of the Department.

TREASURY

Government Departments: Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government departments use the Government Secure Intranet; and what the cost of maintaining the service was in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Ian Pearson: The Government secure intranet (GSi) forms part of critical national infrastructure and as such detailed customer information is not made publicly available.
	There is no cost to OGCbuying.solutions for maintaining the site.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he plans to reply to the letter of 5 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr E. Warne;
	(2)  when he plans to reply to the letter of 28 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr Fethi Souissi.

Ian Pearson: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Treasury hopes to be in a position to reply to the right hon. Member shortly.

National Insurance Contributions

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what means a person can obtain  (a) by telephone and  (b) by post a list of the years of their working life for which they have made some National Insurance (NI) contributions but not enough for a qualifying year towards their state pension, together with an estimate of the cost of turning each such year into a qualifying year through payment of Class 3 NI contributions where such an option is still available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A person can write to HM Revenue and Customs, National Insurance Contributions Office, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1ZZ or telephone the National Insurance Enquiry Helpline on 0845 915 5996 and ask for a statement of their national insurance account. The statement requested will show all of the years on that person's national insurance record and the amounts of national insurance (if any) paid each year. The statement will also identify any years which are not qualifying years because no contributions, or insufficient contributions have been paid and, if voluntary contributions can still be paid the dates by which payments must be made and the amounts payable.
	Information is available on The Pensions Service website at:
	www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/state-pension/basic/faqs
	This information can also be accessed from the HM Revenue and Customs website:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic/class3-faq.htm
	and will be updated before the measure to allow eligible contributions to pay class 3 contributions for additional years comes into force on 6 April 2009.

Tax Allowances: Personal Savings

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the uptake and availability of tax-free regular savings among  (a) those on low incomes and  (b) senior citizens.

Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to doing more to raise levels of financial capability across the population, ensuring people are able to make informed financial choices, including about saving, and develop the skills and confidence to manage their finances effectively.
	The Saving Gateway, a cash saving scheme that aims to kick-start a saving habit among working age people on lower incomes and promote financial inclusion, will be introduced next year.
	Account holders will be able to deposit up to 25 a month for two years, and the Government will contribute 50p for each pound saved in the scheme. The Government contribution, and any other return on Saving Gateway accounts, will be tax-free.
	Every adult also has an annual individual savings account (ISA) allowance of 7,200, 3,600 of which can be saved in cash. ISAs are tax-free, and the current ISA limits mean that the majority of people can hold all of their savings in a tax-efficient way.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average fine imposed on those selling alcohol to under-age people was in each year since 2003.

Alan Campbell: The average fine imposed on those selling alcohol to under-age people between 2003 and 2007 is available in the following table.
	
		
			  Total amount of fines, persons fined and average fine for selling alcohol to person under 18, 2003-2007 
			   
			   2003  2004  2005 
			  Offence  Total fines  Persons fined  Average  Total fines  Persons fined  Average  Total fines  Persons fined  Average 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 (14352)320.00 2 160.00 1,400.00 6 233.33 
			 Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18(1) (14203) or Sale of alcohol to person under18(2)( )(()114379) 89,385.00 353 253.22 126,310.00 532 237.42 167,055.00 679 246.03 
			 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18 (14380)  
			 Persistently selling alcohol to children  
			 Total 89,385.00 353 253.22 126,630.00 534 237.13 168,455.00 685 245.92 
		
	
	
		
			   2006  2007 
			  Offence  Total fines  Persons fined  Average  Total fines  Persons fined  Average 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to person under 18 (14352)   
			 Selling etc intoxicating liquor to person under 18(1) (14203) or Sale of alcohol to person under18(2)( )(()114379) 218,579.00 716 305.28 169,688.00 462 367 29 
			 Allowing sale of alcohol to person under 18 (14380) 2,755.00 10 275.50 2,800.00 6 466 67 
			 Persistently selling alcohol to children   
			 Total 221,334.00 726 304.87 172,488.00 468 368.56 
			 (1) Licensing Act 1964 S 168 A and B as added by Licensing Young Persons) Act 2000 S 1 (2) Licensing Act 2003 S 146  Notes: 1. The average in the Total column is the total of Total Fines divided by the total of Persons Fined  2. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with and disposals were primary disposals handed out. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe an offender could be issued with more than one disposal for a committed offence. 3. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  IOMSAS1-379-03-09

Animal Experiments

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish on her Department's website an abstract relating to each project licence granted under the Animals Act 1986 before 2005.

Shahid Malik: We have no plans to do so. We believe that it is a better use of resources to focus our energies on ensuring that as many abstracts are posted for newly granted licences as possible. Abstracts are provided voluntarily by licensees and there are currently over 1,750 posted on the Home Office website.

Animal Experiments: Primates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of the use in  (a) pharmaceutical research and  (b) other research areas of cynomolgus macaques born of captive bred parents.

Shahid Malik: No estimates have yet been made of the cost of using cynomolgus macaques born of captive bred parents for research purposes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in either pharmaceutical research or other research areas.
	We will consider these costs in assessing the impact of the European Commission's proposal for a draft directive for the protection of animals used in scientific procedures to replace Directive 86/609/EEC published in November 2008. We will publish the impact assessment when we consult formally on the draft directive.

Crime: Cheshire

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the levels of crime against domestic property in  (a) Cheshire and  (b) Halton constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The relevant offences are those of burglary in a dwelling and criminal damage to a dwelling.
	In 2007-08, there were 3,865 offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded in the Cheshire police force area. This represents a fall of 13 per cent. compared to 2006-07. There were 5,297 recorded offences of criminal damage to a dwelling in 2007-08, a fall of 14 per cent. compared to the previous year.
	There were 581 offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in Halton in 2007-08, a fall of 12 per cent. over the previous year. There were 1,159 recorded offences of criminal damage to a dwelling, a fall of 8 per cent. over the previous year.

Crime: Wildlife

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal wildlife items were seized in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office does not collect statistics from police forces regarding seizures of illegal wildlife items. However, HM Revenue and Customs has published information in their annual reports regarding items that they have seized under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is detailed in the attached table:
	Further information can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm.
	
		
			   2005-6  2006-7  2007-8 
			   Number of seizures  Number of items seized  Number of seizures  Number of items seized  Number of seizures  Number of items seized 
			 Live animals and birds 37 1,750 39 1,229 25 442 
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 129 991 154 1,315 91 1,821 
			 Ivory 18 37 24 208 15 130 
			 Plants 11 5,482 40 157,428 9 22,245 
			 Other CITES listed species 90 442 99 386 58 1,206 
			 Total 285 8,702 356 160,566 198 25,844

Crime: Young People

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people aged between 13 and 19 years have been charged with a non-violent offence in  (a) England,  (b) the North East and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Information provided by the Ministry of Justice on the number of persons aged 13 to 19 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences in England and Wales, England, the North East region, and Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria police force areas (PFAs), from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) are provided in tables 1 to 4. Information for Northern Ireland and Scotland are matters for the Northern Ireland Office and the Scottish Executive respectively.
	Charging data are not collected centrally and prosecutions data are therefore given in lieu.
	Data are not available at parliamentary constituency level. Data are provided in table 4 broken down by those PFAs, comprising the North East region, in which the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency is located.
	For consistency with published information, data are given in the tables, by offence group, for persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons aged 13 to 19 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences in England and Wales, by offence group, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			  England and Wales  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 20,274 18,869 18,649 18,548 17,955 
			 Sexual offences 1,544 1,715 1,644 1,468 1,412 
			 Robbery 7,289 7,254 7,602 8,387 8,849 
			 Sub-total 29,107 27,838 27,895 28,403 28,216 
			   
			  Other indictable offences  
			 Burglary 13,583 12,427 11,793 11,583 11,515 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 35,300 32,283 30,677 29,014 31,024 
			 Fraud and forgery 2,955 2,599 2,232 1,870 1,897 
			 Criminal damage 6,389 6,198 5,969 6,474 6,294 
			 Drug offences 12,621 9,355 9,357 9,253 10,627 
			 Other indictable offences 20,830 19,185 17,338 16,010 14,593 
			 Indictable motoring offences 2,301 1,988 1,629 1,414 1,255 
			 Sub-total 93,979 84,035 78,995 75,618 77,205 
			   
			 Total indictable 123,086 111,873 106,890 104,021 105,421 
			 (1) These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) 'Indictable' includes 'indictable only' and 'triable-either-way offences'. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way' offences may be tried either at the Crown court or at magistrates courts.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of persons aged 13 to 19 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences in England, by offence group, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			  England  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 18,828 17,428 17,341 17,352 16,788 
			 Sexual offences 1,465 1,606 1,538 1,379 1,314 
			 Robbery 7,122 7,082 7,425 8,220 8,623 
			 Sub-total 27,415 26,116 26,304 26,951 26,725 
			   
			  Other indictable offences  
			 Burglary 12,536 11,465 11,030 10,808 10,814 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 32,846 30,051 28,769 27,445 29,501 
			 Fraud and forgery 2,805 2,435 2,115 1,785 1,812 
			 Criminal damage 5,822 5,796 5,611 6,211 6,044 
			 Drug offences 11,875 8,750 8,824 8,780 10,186 
			 Other indictable offences 19,406 17,784 16,138 15,012 13,675 
			 Indictable motoring offences 2,105 1,834 1,501 1,290 1,172 
			 Sub-total 87,395 78,115 73,988 71,331 73,204 
			   
			 Total indictable 114,810 104,231 100,292 98,282 99,929 
			 (1) These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) 'Indictable' includes 'indictable only' and 'triable-either-way offences'. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way' offences may be tried either at the Crown court or at magistrates courts.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of persons aged 13 to 19 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences in the North East region, by offence group, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			  North East region  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 1,353 1,187 1,198 1,274 1,336 
			 Sexual offences 82 104 107 109 94 
			 Robbery 260 208 172 182 183 
			 Sub-total 1,695 1,499 1,477 1,565 1,613 
			   
			  Other indictable offences  
			 Burglary 989 725 698 715 746 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 2,581 2,171 2,000 1,985 2,308 
			 Fraud and forgery 142 113 112 85 114 
			 Criminal damage 305 226 179 214 347 
			 Drug offences 1,010 649 691 646 680 
			 Other indictable offences 1,461 1,226 1,173 1,135 1,133 
			 Indictable motoring offences 162 137 110 101 85 
			 Sub-total 6,650 5,247 4,963 4,881 5,413 
			 Total indictable 8,345 6,746 6,440 6,446 7,026 
			 (1) These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) 'Indictable' includes 'indictable only' and 'triable-either-way offences'. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way' offences may be tried either at the Crown court or at magistrates courts.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Number of persons aged 13 to 19 years proceeded against at magistrates courts for indictable offences in Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria police force areas, comprising the North East region, by offence group, 2003 to 2007( 1,2,3) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Cleveland police force area  
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 267 209 223 286 275 
			 Sexual offences 15 23 21 25 12 
			 Robbery 75 64 45 46 39 
			 Sub-total 357 296 289 357 326 
			   
			  Other indictable  
			 Burglary 256 191 181 203 198 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 599 520 430 423 528 
			 Fraud and forgery 27 16 10 9 14 
			 Criminal damage 77 54 38 26 28 
			 Drug offences 199 102 112 78 110 
			 Other indictable offences 362 313 228 212 194 
			 Indictable motoring offences 44 35 30 16 20 
			 Sub-total 1,564 1,231 1,029 967 1,092 
			   
			 Total indictable 1,921 1,527 1,318 1,324 1,418 
			   
			  Durham police force area  
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 275 249 311 335 320 
			 Sexual offences 18 41 33 33 28 
			 Robbery 29 22 20 27 29 
			 Sub-total 322 312 364 395 377 
			   
			  Other indictable offences  
			 Burglary 189 143 190 141 197 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 359 330 384 366 426 
			 Fraud and forgery 27 20 24 12 31 
			 Criminal damage 114 94 69 70 193 
			 Drug offences 124 65 91 61 78 
			 Other indictable offences 194 172 240 240 269 
			 Indictable motoring offences 34 33 19 18 15 
			 Sub-total 1,041 857 1,017 908 1,209 
			   
			 Total indictable 1,363 1,169 1,381 1,303 1,586 
			   
			  Northumbria police force area  
			  Violent offences  
			 Violence against the person 811 729 664 653 741 
			 Sexual offences 49 40 53 51 54 
			 Robbery 156 122 107 109 115 
			 Sub-total 1,016 891 824 813 910 
			   
			  Other indictable offences  
			 Burglary 544 391 327 371 351 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 1,623 1,321 1,186 1,196 1,354 
			 Fraud and forgery 88 77 78 64 69 
			 Criminal damage 114 78 72 118 126 
			 Drug offences 687 482 488 507 492 
			 Other indictable offences 905 741 705 683 670 
			 Indictable motoring offences 84 69 61 67 50  
			 Sub-total 4,045 3,159 2,917 3,006 3,112 
			   
			 Total indictable 5,061 4,050 3,741 3,819 4,022 
			 (1) These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) 'Indictable' includes 'indictable only' and 'triable-either-way offences'. 'Indictable only' are the most serious breaches of the criminal law and must be dealt with at the Crown court. 'Triable-either-way' offences may be tried either at the Crown court or at magistrates courts.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit.

Custody: Ex-servicemen

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ensure that the Veterans in Custody Support programme's Have you served? leaflet is made available to those detained in police custody suites who have previously served in the armed forces; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Posters and leaflets for Veterans Prison In-Reach will be circulated shortly under the Veterans Prison In-Reach Initiative to all UK prison establishments. We will consider with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice the suitability of providing information specific to veterans held in police custody in England and Wales.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many civil servants in her Department have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for breaches of the Civil Service Code in each of the last three years;
	(2)  pursuant to her Statement of 4 December 2008, if she will place in the Library a list of relevant leaks, by broad category of highly classified material which was passed to the police.

Phil Woolas: h olding answer 9 December 2008
	 Information on breaches of the civil service code is not held centrally, because cases where staff are disciplined or dismissed are recorded in relation to the category of offence (for instance, abuse of IT or general misconduct). Collating this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	But the figures in relation to all discipline and dismissal cases, on disciplinary grounds, attendance grounds and efficiency grounds in Home Office HQ and the UK Border Agency for the last three years are:
	
		
			  Numbers of staff dismissed 
			   Home Office HQ  UK Border Agency 
			 2006 10 62 
			 2007 6 91 
			 2008 6 88 
		
	
	
		
			  Numbers of staff disciplined 
			   Home Office HQ  UK Border Agency 
			 2006 16 410 
			 2007 41 573 
			 2008 30 550 
		
	
	The police were passed papers relating to a range of identified leaks from the Home Office. It is Home Office policy not to comment on the nature of leaked material.

Domestic Violence: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many men and teenage boys have reported being subject to domestic violence in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many women and teenage girls have reported being subject to domestic violence in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire in the last 12 months.

Alan Campbell: We do not collect this information centrally.

Drugs: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of possession of  (a) cannabis,  (b) cocaine,  (c) heroin, (d) ecstasy,  (e) ketamine and  (f) LSD have been recorded by police in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) East Sussex in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: Recorded offences of possession of cannabis have been collected separately since 2004-05 and the available figures are given in the table. Possession of other drug types are included in the Home Office classification 'Possession of controlled drugs (excluding cannabis)' but the drug type cannot be separately identified.
	Recent rises in recorded possession of cannabis offences are largely associated with the increased police use of powers to issue warnings for cannabis possession, these powers first becoming nationally available from 1 April 2004.
	Offence categorisations as used in police recorded crime have always been broader than those used in court proceedings and the detailed returns on cautioning. From 1 April 2004, it was agreed that cannabis possession be separated from other drug possession offences to better monitor the use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings. It has not been considered necessary to record more detailed breakdowns on other drug possession offences as overall detection rates for these offences are high.
	Information on court proceedings and cautioning give a good picture of the extent of other drug possessions that come to the attention of the police by type of drug.
	
		
			  Possession of cannabis offences recorded by the police 
			   Eastbourne local authority area  East Sussex Basic Command Unit 
			 2004-05 139 n/a 
			 2005-06 168 n/a 
			 2006-07 206 888 
			 2007-08 317 1,267 
			 n/a = Not available.

Dual Nationality

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 116W, on dual nationality, where the information requested is held; and if she will collect and publish it.

Shahid Malik: There is no requirement under the British Nationality Act 1981 for a person to renounce their previous nationality when acquiring British citizenship. Nor is there any bar on holding another nationality at the same time as British citizenship, for example where one nationality is held by birth and the other by descent.
	The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not request information about applicant's dual nationality as part of the application for a British passport there is, therefore, no information held by the IPS or Home Office to provide a response to this question.
	Furthermore if a British passport holder subsequently gains the nationality of another country they are not required to inform the IPS or the Home Office.

Firearms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of police investigations of suspected offences involving ball-bearing guns in each of the last three years; what guidance is issued to the police on conducting such investigations; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Available data relate to the number of offences recorded by the police involving the use of a BB gun or soft air weapon, where they were fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used as a threat. Latest data relate to 2007-08 and were published in table 2.03 of 'Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2007-08' (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 02/09, 22 January 2009), which is available online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0209.pdf
	A copy of the relevant table is shown as follows.
	How suspected offences are investigated is an operational matter for the force concerned. To help them tackle the misuse of any kind of imitation firearm we have strengthened the controls considerably on several recent occasions. It is now an offence to have an imitation firearm in a public place without reasonable excuse; they cannot be sold to persons under 18; and there is a general ban on the sale, importation and manufacture of realistic imitations. It is also a serious offence to threaten other people with an imitation firearm.
	
		
			  Table 2.03 crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in which firearms were reported to have been used by type of principal weapon, 1998-99 to 2007-08number of offences 
			  Recorded crime 
			  Principal weapon  1998-99( 1)  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02( 2)  2002-03( 3)  2003-04  2004-05( 4)  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Long-barrelled shotgun 322 353 303 380 361 424 306 375 360 365 
			
			 Sawn-off shotgun 320 340 305 332 311 294 291 267 252 237 
			
			  Handgun( 5)   
			 Converted imitation   20 7 12 7 
			 Reactivated   2 2 2 1 
			 Converted air pistol   14 12 13 11 
			 Other   866 1,022 908 895 
			 Type unknown   3,458 3,629 3,238 3,258 
			 Handgun total 2,687 3,685 4,110 5,874 5,549 5,144 4,360 4,672 4,173 4,172 
			
			 Rifle 43 67 36 64 52 48 54 71 69 71 
			  Imitation firearm( 5)   
			 Imitation handgun   355 368 299 322 
			 BB gun/soft air weapon   2,863 2,755 2,094 2,124 
			 Deactivated firearm   1 4 2 2 
			 Blank firer   27 17 21 21 
			 Other imitation   127 133 100 93 
			 Imitation firearm total 566 823 787 1,246 1,814 2,146 3,373 3,277 2,516 2,562 
			
			 Unidentified firearm 665 762 950 1,176 1,431 1,356 1,500 1,362 1,276 1,325 
			
			  Other firearm( 5)   
			 Unconverted starting gun   9 9 3 6 
			 CS gas   516 461 436 552 
			 Pepper spray   141 154 179 228 
			 Machine gun   25 34 39 18 
			 Stun gun   143 133 108 118 
			 Other converted imitation weapon   1 2  4 
			 Other reactivated weapon2 1 2 
			 Disguised firearm   14 19 57 87 
			 Other firearm (specified)   336 250 176 118 
			 Other firearm total 606 813 980 952 730 926 1,185 1,064 999 1,133 
			
			 All firearms excluding air weapons 5,209 6,843 7,471 10,024 10,248 10,338 11,069 11,088 9,645 9,865 
			
			 Air weapon 8,665 10,103 10,227 12,377 13,822 13,756 11,825 10,439 8,836 7,478 
			
			 All firearms 13,874 16,946 17,698 22,401 24,070 24,094 22,894 21,527 18,481 17,343 
			 (1) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998. (2) Figures may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002. (3) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (4) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on 1 April 2004 may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons. (5) Further weapon breakdowns were available for the first time on 1 April 2004.

Glorification of Terrorism

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges relating to the glorification of terrorism have been brought in England since 2007.

Vernon Coaker: The information is not currently held.
	The Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General's Office are currently working with the National Coordinator for Terrorist Investigations to improve the quality of data relating to those arrested, charged, convicted and imprisoned under terrorist legislation and under other legislation but considered terrorist related. As soon as this is complete a Statistical Bulletin covering this information will be published by the Home Office.
	The bulletin will say how many individuals have been charged and convicted for encouragement of terrorism; however it will not break it down any further.

National DNA Database

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people of each  (a) age group,  (b) ethnicity,  (c) gender and  (d) religion had DNA profiles stored on the national DNA database at the latest date for which figures are available.

Alan Campbell: The figures given in Table 1 show the number of profiles stored on the national DNA database (NDNAD) by police forces in England and Wales at 9 January 2009, broken down by age group. The age groups relate to an individual's age on 9 January 2009 rather than their age on the date when the profile was loaded onto the NDNAD. These figures do not reflect the recent removal of all profiles of children under 10 from the NDNAD; following the Home Secretary's announcement on 16 December 2008 that all profiles belonging to children under 10 would be removed, there are no longer any such profiles on the NDNAD (as at 5 March 2009).
	The figures given in Table 2 show the number of profiles stored on the NDNAD by police forces in England and Wales at 9 January 2009, broken down by ethnic appearance (Table 2). Ethnic appearance is based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample as to which of six broad ethnic appearance categories the person is considered to belong. Unknown means that no ethnic appearance information was recorded by the officer taking the sample.
	The figures given in Table 3 show the number of profiles stored on the NDNAD by police forces in England and Wales at 9 January 2009, broken down by gender. Unassigned means that the police officer who took the sample did not record the individual's gender.
	Information on the religion of individuals whose profiles are stored on the NDNAD is not recorded.
	The number of profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some of the profiles stored on the NDNAD are replicates. Replicate profiles arise when the same person has their profile loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion (this may be because the person gave different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because of upgrading of profiles). It is estimated that 13.3 per cent. of profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates and therefore the number of individuals on the NDNAD is approximately 13.3 per cent. less than the number of subject profiles; an estimate of the number of individuals in each category has been included in the tables. The presence of replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the database.
	
		
			  Table 1: England and Wales profiles broken down by age (at 9 January 2009) 
			  Current age  Subject profiles  Estimated individuals 
			 Under 10(1) (1)49 (1)42 
			 10-15 131,353 113,883 
			 16-17 200,597 173,918 
			 18-20 453,821 393,463 
			 21-24 729,674 632,627 
			 25-34 1,563,022 1,355,140 
			 35-44 1,104,436 957,546 
			 45-54 610,289 529,121 
			 55-64 248,339 215,310 
			 65and over 98,971 85,808 
			 Age unknown 389 337 
			
			 Total 5,140,940 4,457,195 
			 (1)Since these figures were obtained all profiles belonging to children aged under 10 have been deleted from the NDNAD (as at 5 March 2009). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: England and Wales profiles broken down by ethnic appearance (at 9 January 2009) 
			  Ethnic appearance  Subject profiles  Estimated individuals 
			 Unknown 297,673 258,082 
			 Asian 282,397 244,838 
			 Black 398,867 345,818 
			 Chinese, Japanese other SE Asian 33,510 29,053 
			 Middle Eastern 39,358 34,123 
			 WhiteNorth European 3,989,622 3,459,002 
			 WhiteSouth European 99,513 86,278 
			
			 Total 5,140,940 4,457,195 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: England and Wales profiles broken down by gender (at 9 January 2009) 
			  Gender  Subject profiles  Estimated individuals 
			 Male 4,039,500 3,502,247 
			 Female 1,062,340 921,049 
			 Unassigned 39,100 33,900 
			
			 Total 5,140,940 4,457,195

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on security arrangements for the London 2012 Olympics.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office is working closely with the Ministry of Defence on security planning for the London 2012 games. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic safety and security national concept of operations includes an expectation that the armed forces will provide some specialist support to the civilian authorities and we are proceeding on this basis

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will hold discussions with her international counterparts on security arrangements for athletes and officials from their national teams at the London 2012 Olympics.

Vernon Coaker: The Olympic and Paralympic Games are international events with over 200 competing nations. We are very aware of the need to brief and consult the governments and public authorities of the countries involved, to ensure that their security concerns are reflected in our planning and delivery, and that our security arrangements have their confidence and co-operation.
	We plan a comprehensive programme to engage the other competing countries specifically on Games safety and security issues in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games. This will complement and build on the extensive dialogue which we already have with overseas partners on counter-terrorism, combating crime, and safety and security matters.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of  (a) police dog and handler teams and  (b) specialist explosive search dogs which will be deployed to provide security for the London 2012 Olympics.

Vernon Coaker: On 25 February the Government approved a 2012 Olympic and Paralympic safety and security strategy and also endorsed an outline 2012 Olympic and Paralympic safety and security national concept of operations which describes how the strategy will be delivered. The workstreams which flow from the strategy and concept of operations have already highlighted the provision of police and search dogs and their handlers as an area in which demand will need to be managed carefully. Work to refine this requirement is ongoing.

Organised Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to improve the effectiveness of tackling organised crime operating across police force borders.

Alan Campbell: We intend to build on the significant developments already accomplished in improving the police response to protective services in the round through the tri-partite Protective Services Improvement Programme. Particular emphasis has been placed on serious organised crime and the focus of that work has been above the level of individual police forces. We are continuing to support the ten Regional Intelligence Units, set up in each region to analyse, assess and develop information and intelligence held by police forces and other law enforcement agencies on serious organised crime; we are continuing to fund the work of the office of the National Co-ordinator for Serious Organised Crime, whose role includes ensuring that there is a co-ordinated response to cross-border serious organised crime across the country and that improvements needed in tackling cross-border organised crime are identified and addressed; and we are continuing to support and fund the work of the East Midlands Special Operations Unita region highlighted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in 2005 as having significant needs in addressing serious organised crime. In addition to maintaining these resources, in 2009-10 we are will be match-funding pilots in the West Midlands and North West regions to build multi-agency serious organised crime capability to strengthen the operational response and build on existing collaboration in those regions. 1 million in matched funding will also be used to target forces with specific gaps in organised crime.
	Recognising the need to improve co-ordination we have established the Organised Crime Partnership Board (OCPB), attended by senior representatives from the relevant organised crime law enforcement agencies, to provide the necessary strategic direction and co-ordination for a joint response to organised crime across the law enforcement and criminal justice community. The OCPB has agreed a unified programme of work and is sponsored by a cross-Governmental Ministerial Advisory Group to ensure that good progress is made in this vital area.
	As part of HMIC's role as the explicit 'guarantor of the public interest', from 2009-10 it will continue to assess and review progress on improvements in all of the protective services and the inspectorate is separately conducting a review to identify the potential need and functionality of collaborative frameworks above force level for different policing functions such as organised crime.

Organised Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of each police authority in tackling organised crime operating across police force borders.

Alan Campbell: As part of an examination of each of the protective services policing areas, we have asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to conduct a thematic review into each police force's capability and capacity for dealing with serious organised crime. Its report is expected to be published in redacted form shortly. Her Majesty's Inspectorate has also conducted a review into the planning undertaken by forces and authorities for identifying gaps and making improvements in protective services, which includes serious organised crime, and the report 'Get SmartPlanning to Protect' is available on the Inspectorate's website at the following address:
	www.inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/inspections/thematic/psr-thematic-report/

Organised Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding has been made available to each police authority to tackle organised crime operating across police force borders in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The general police grant is provided to police authorities by the Home Office and allocated within each force to the different areas of policing. Serious organised crime is not funded separately. However central funding is provided to address this crime area above the force level. This includes running the Serious Organised Crime Agency for which funding has been 426 million in 2006-07, 445 million in 2007-08 and 474 million in 2008-09. 8 million of additional funding was also provided nationally in each of the years 2006-07 and 2007-08 to establish Regional Intelligence Units in each of the 10 ACPO regions in England and Wales and to strengthen the response to serious organised crime in the east midlands through the creation of a Special Operations Unit. In 2008-09 5 million has been allocated for continuing support to the Regional Intelligence Units and 2 million to the east midlands Special Operations Unit. A number of protective services collaboration demonstrator projects, each involving more than one force area, have also received start-up funding since 2007-08 out of a 5 million budget, several of which include serious organised crime workstreams.

Passports

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of passport applications approved by the Post Office check and send service were subsequently rejected by the Passport Office in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not reject applications that are incomplete or incorrect.
	In the 12 months commencing March 2008, IPS received 2,523,230 applications via the Check  Send service provided by Post Office Limited. Of these, 1.68 per cent. (42,324) were identified as incomplete or incorrect upon receipt by IPS and required further action to allow the application to progress.

Police Stations: Closures

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations closed permanently in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally. The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for the police authority and chief constable for each force, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Accidents

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents resulting in serious injuries or death involving members of the public and officers of  (a) Wiltshire police and  (b) the Metropolitan police in the course of their duties there were in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Figures collected by the Home Office show numbers of road traffic collisions involving police vehicles resulting from immediate/emergency response and police pursuits since 2002-03. They are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Road traffic collisions involving police vehicles in emergency/persuit involving injury by degree of injury and public/police personnel( 1) 
			   Injury to 
			   Members of public  Police personnel 
			  Financial year( 2, 3)  Fatal injury  Serious injury  Fatal injury  Serious injury 
			  2002-03 
			 Severity of injury 4 13 1 1 
			 Metropolitan police 4 13 1 1 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  2003-04 
			 Severity of injury 4 19 0 2 
			 Metropolitan police 4 19 0 2 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Severity of injury 4 20 0 3 
			 Metropolitan police 4 20 0 3 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  2005-06 
			 Severity of injury 4 24 0 9 
			 Metropolitan police 4 24 0 9 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  2006-07 
			 Severity of injury 4 18 0 8 
			 Metropolitan police 4 18 0 8 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Severity of injury 4 23 0 5 
			 Metropolitan police 4 23 0 5 
			 Wiltshire 0 1 0 2 
			 (1) Data are unverified and therefore provided on a provisional basis only. (2) Financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March in each of the given years. (3) Data collected on behalf of HMIC since 2002-03.

Police: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has had with chief constables on recognising  (a) transience and  (b) visitor numbers when allocating policing resources to seaside and coastal towns.

Vernon Coaker: I have regular meetings with chief constables and police authorities to discuss police resources. The impact of visitor numbers on police resources has previously been raised as part of those discussions.
	The Police Allocation Formula Working Group is in the process of reviewing the police funding formula for the next CSR period (2011-12 to 2013-14). These issues will be considered by the group in the near future.

Police: Conduct

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on persons convicted of an offence involving dishonesty while serving as a police officer; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Police officers are expected to demonstrate the highest level of personal and professional standards of behaviour. The Standards of Professional Behaviour contained in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008 reflect the expectations that the police service and the public have of how police officers should behave. Any breach of these standards may result in disciplinary action being taken, which in the most serious cases can result in dismissal from the service.
	The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is responsible for national police recruitment standards. Home Office Circular 54/2003 outlines the policy which is used to assess each application. Each case is considered on its merits and eligibility will depend on the nature and circumstances of the offence. Applicants must declare on application whether or not they have any convictions or cautions, spent or otherwise. Responsibility and decisions for vetting lie with the individual police.

Police: Manpower

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many commissioned police officers there were in England in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 1996-97.

Vernon Coaker: Information on police numbers is published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series 'Police Service Strength, England and Wales'. The bulletins are available in the Library of the House, and can be downloaded from the publications link within the Research Development and Statistics directorate website located at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pubsstatistical.html
	There were 132,313 full-time equivalent police officers in the 39 forces in England as at 31 March 2008, compared to 118,455 as at 31 March 1997.

Police: Protection

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England were engaged in personal protection duties on the latest date for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1779W.

Proceeds of Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to improve rates of enforcement of payment under court asset confiscation orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Alan Campbell: We have taken a number of steps to improve the enforcement of confiscation orders. For example, we issued a 'Best Practice Guide to Confiscation Order Enforcement' to all relevant agencies and set up a new database to monitor and provide management information on confiscation performance. We set up a multi-agency enforcement task force for two years ending 2005-06; their work was subsequently subsumed by HM Courts Service and other enforcement agencies. HM Courts Service have established nine dedicated regional confiscation units, two of which have been co-located with the Home Office-funded regional asset recovery teams. The enforcement of Crown Prosecution Service confiscation orders for which CPS branches have lead enforcement responsibility is co-ordinated on a group basis, so as to benefit from economies of scale and to encourage the development and optimum use of specialist enforcement skills. In addition, the prosecution agencies and other bodies are making greater use of restraint orders.
	We are giving the police and other bodies new powers in the Policing and Crime Bill to enable them to seize and detain assets at the earliest opportunity, subject to judicial oversight, to prevent criminals trying to hide them or otherwise dispose of them in anticipation of a confiscation order. We are also giving the authorities powers in the Bill to sell seized property to satisfy a confiscation order. These new measures will help to further improve confiscation enforcement rates.

Proceeds of Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid under court asset confiscation orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each year since its introduction.

Alan Campbell: The total net value of confiscation orders paid under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 or earlier legislation in each year since 2003-04 is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2003-04 38.8 
			 2004-05 54.4 
			 2005-06 61.3 
			 2006-07 77.8 
			 2007-08 96.3 
		
	
	In addition to confiscation orders, the Proceeds of Crime Act makes provision for the seizure and forfeiture of cash that is the proceeds of crime or is intended for use in crime. The Act also provides for the civil recovery of the proceeds of crime. Law enforcement and prosecution agencies have recovered additional sums using these powers.

Proceeds of Crime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court asset confiscation orders made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each year since its introduction.

Alan Campbell: The number of confiscation orders made by the courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and earlier legislation, since the Act came into force is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 1,497 
			 2004-05 2,519 
			 2005-06 3,807 
			 2006-07 4,116 
			 2007-08 4,903

Prostitution

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 468-9W, on prostitution, what changes were made to the Policing and Crime Bill as a result of the responses received.

Alan Campbell: The responses to the Home Office's letter of 26 September were received before the introduction of the Policing and Crime Bill. The responses expressed a range of views, which were taken into consideration in conjunctions with the findings of the Government's 'Tackling the Demand for Prostitution: A Review' and contributed as part of this process to the development of measures of clauses 13,14, 18,19 and 20 of the Policing and Crime Bill.

Right of Search: Computers

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances the police may search home computers without warrants; whether she plans to extend the circumstances in which such searches may take place; what requirements there are on the police to render computers secure following such searches; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 January 2009
	If an officer is lawfully on any premises with consent or under a warrant or for the purposes of making an arrest, he can require information stored in any electronic form and accessible from the premises that could be used in evidence, to be provided in a form which he can take away or from which it can be readily produced. The issue of security is a matter for the person requested to provide the information.

Terrorism: Detainees

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of detention without charge for over 21 days on suspicion of terrorist activity there have been in England since October 2008.

Vernon Coaker: Since October 2008 there have been no cases of detention without charge for over 21 days on suspicion of terrorist activity in England.

Terrorism: Somalia

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of arrests on terrorist charges involved persons of Somali origin  (a) in the latest period for which figures are available and  (b) in the comparable period five years earlier.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held. The Home Office science research group will be publishing a statistical bulletin on terrorism arrests and outcomes. This will provide detail on terrorism related charges and convictions, providing a breakdown of specific offences. The bulletin will show the numbers of people charged and convicted and the charge to conviction ratio. This information will not be broken down by country of origin. The bulletin is due to be published shortly.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Equal Pay

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government is taking to reduce the time taken to hear equal pay cases at employment tribunals.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	A significant number of equal pay cases involve complex issues which have to be addressed prior to dealing with the merits of the claim and this can make them more protracted than other employment cases. On a number of issues, employment tribunals have been obliged to wait for the outcome of appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal and, in some cases, to the Court of Appeal or Court of Session (in Scotland), before being able to progress them further. It is important that parties are able to exercise their legal rights by raising such issues which they consider relevant in the pursuit or defence of a case or group of cases. Many of these issues have affected very large numbers of cases.
	Case management of equal pay cases is the responsibility of the judiciary. However, specialist employment judges are actively engaged in this process. This includes working with parties on an ongoing basis to ensure that case grouping is effective and expeditious.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crimes of Violence

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of hate crime were recorded in Northern Ireland in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2008.

Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn, Hatfield (Grant Shapps) of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 988-90W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The number of hits each of the websites maintained by my Department received in each of the last 12 months is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Month  Youth Justice Agency (youthjusticeagencyni.gov.uk)  Northern Ireland Prison Service (niprisionservice.gov.uk)  Organised Crime Task Force (octf.gov.uk) 
			 February 2009 88258 1045255 50245 
			 January 2009 104992 1144841 60020 
			 December 2008 63555 1048704 55750 
			 November 2008 (1)n/a 910863 61796 
			 October 2008 89133 995649 63891 
			 September 2008 87200 895712 58327 
			 August 2008 70935 1438674 63271 
			 July 2008 81974 1486028 69260 
			 June 2008 78819 703248 63059 
			 May 2008 94164 695383 61091 
			 April 2008 88663 736815 62760 
			 March 2008 44026 731811 54530 
			 (1) November figures not available due to a reporting problem.

Departmental Marketing

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1415W, on departmental marketing, for what reason the average expenditure increased in the year 2007-08.

Shaun Woodward: The additional expenditure in 2007-08 relates primarily to the Fireworks Safety Campaign and the public appointment of a new Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.
	The Northern Ireland Office's procurement policy includes provisions to achieve best value for money in procurement of goods and other services.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following table details the number of staff within the Northern Ireland Office who have had periods of absence for  (a) 30-days and over,  (b) 50-days and over and  (c) 100-days and over in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	
		
			   30-days and over  50-days and over  100-days and over 
			 1 April 2008 to 21 November 2008 110 72 27 
			 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 137 99 40 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 143 91 38 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 128 74 30 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 118 73 32

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The following table details the number of staff in the Northern Ireland Office recorded as having had a period of absence of over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	
		
			  As at December each year  Number 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 2 
			 2007 1

Firearms: Licensing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the security services in Northern Ireland have had  (a) a personal protection firearm licence revoked and  (b) an application for a personal protection firearm licence refused in each of the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the level of security threat to members of the security services in the same period.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Lady and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Firearms: Licensing

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many owners of personal protection weapons in Northern Ireland had their renewal applications  (a) approved and  (b) declined in 2008.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Recruitment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Police Service of Northern Ireland was Roman Catholic as at 1 January 2009.

Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Prisoners: Per Capita Costs

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the actual cost per prisoner place in Northern Ireland was in 2008-09; and what target cost per prisoner place was set for that year.

Paul Goggins: The outturn cost per prisoner place in 2008-09 will be contained in the annual audited and published agency accounts. The target for 2008-09 is 81,500; the Prison Service anticipates the target will be met.

Public Opinion

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department and its agencies have spent on  (a) opinion polling,  (b) focus groups and  (c) other forms of market research in each year since 1997; if he will list the surveys commissioned; and what the purpose was of each.

Paul Goggins: Information on how much the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies have spent on  (a) opinion polling,  (b) focus groups and  (c) other forms of market research is provided in the following tables. I have also listed the surveys commissioned and what the purpose was of each.
	The information is not available for each year since 1997, it has been provided for each year since 2003.
	
		
			  2003-04 
			
			 Opinion polling 340,317.00 
			 Focus groups 27,480.00 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commis sioned and the purpose of each: Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus survey - to obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. NI Crime surveyto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of crime in NI. International Crime Victimisation Surveyto assess how many people have been victims of crime. NI Omnibus SurveyRecovery of assets moduleto ascertain people's awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness. NI Omnibus SurveyConfidence in the Criminal Justice System Moduleto assess people's confidence of the Criminal Justice System. Victim and Witness Views on the Criminal Justice System. Community Attitudes Surveyassessment of criminal justice issues as they relate to the two main communities in NI. Compensation Agency Applicants' Attitudes Survey. Confidence in the Criminal Justice Systemobtain views of the public. 
		
	
	
		
			  2004-05 
			
			 Opinion polling 180,158.00 
			 Focus groups 8,025.00 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commis sioned and the purpose of each: Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus surveyto obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. NI Crime Surveyto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of crime in NI. International Crime Victimisation Surveyto assess how many people have been victims of crime. NI Omnibus SurveyOrganised Crime Module - to ascertain people's experience and perceptions of Organised Crime. NI Omnibus SurveyYouth Justice Agency moduleto ascertain people's awareness of the Youth Justice Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness. Compensation Agency Applicants' Attitudes Survey. Confidence in the Criminal Justice Systemobtain view of the public. 
		
	
	
		
			  2005-06 
			
			 Opinion polling 361,340.00 
			 Focus groups 0 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commissioned and the purpose of each: Northern Ireland Information Service Pollto gauge public view on the political process. Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus surveyto obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. NI Crime Surveyto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of crime in NI. NI Omnibus SurveyOrganised Crime Moduleto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of Organised Crime. NI Omnibus SurveyRecovery of Assets Moduleto ascertain people's awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness. NI Omnibus SurveyConfidence in the Criminal Justice System Moduleto assess people's confidence of the Criminal Justice System. NI Omnibus SurveyConfidence in Police Moduleto assess people's confidence of the police. NI Omnibus SurveySexual Violence Moduleperceptions and assessment of sexual violence in NI. 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			
			 Opinion polling 399,328.00 
			 Focus groups 0 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commissioned and the purpose of each: Northern Ireland Information Service Pollto gauge public view on the political process. Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus surveyto obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. NI Crime Surveyto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of crime in NI. NI Omnibus SurveyOrganised Crime Moduleto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of Organised Crime. NI Omnibus SurveyRecovery of Assets Moduleto ascertain people's awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness.  Compensation Agency Applicants' Attitudes Survey. Public Attitudes towards Sex Offenders. 
		
	
	
		
			  2007-08 
			
			 Opinion polling 397,145.00 
			 Focus groups 1,828.37 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commis sioned and the purpose of each: Northern Ireland Information Service Pollto gauge public view on the political process. Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus surveyto obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. NI Crime Surveyto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of crime in NI. NI Omnibus SurveyOrganised Crime Moduleto ascertain people's experience and perceptions of Organised Crime. NI Omnibus SurveyRecovery of Assets Moduleto ascertain people's awareness of Assets Recovery Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness. NI Omnibus SurveyYouth Justice Agency moduleto ascertain people's awareness of the Youth Justice Agency and perceptions of its effectiveness 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09 
			
			 Opinion polling 46,069.29 
			 Focus groups 0 
			 Other market research 0 
			  Surveys Commissioned and the purpose of each: Northern Ireland Information Service Pollto gauge public view on the political process. Commissioned questions for NI Omnibus surveyto obtain public perception of Public Prosecution Service which in turn assists in the development of policy. Customer Satisfaction Surveyto analyse the performance of the Compensation Agency.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Buncefield

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has made an assessment of the implications of the Major Incident Investigation Board report on Buncefield for land use planning policy.

Iain Wright: As indicated in the written statement made by Lord McKenzie on 13 November 2008,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column WS55, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) will lead Government consideration of the Major Incident Investigation Board report (MIIB), Recommendations on land use planning and the control of societal risk around major hazard sites, published on 15 July last year. She will respond substantively on behalf of the Government in due course.
	Communities and Local Government (CLG) have appointed consultants to investigate and explain the operation of the legislation controlling the planning application and hazardous substances consent processes, and to consider the scope for rationalisation and possible integration of these regimes. This project will inform the Government's response to the MIIB report, in particular recommendation one, which calls for a cross-government and wide-ranging review of the land use planning system around major hazard sites in Britain.
	In undertaking this project, CLG will work closely with the Health and Safety Executive, the devolved administrations, representatives of local authorities, and industry. The research will take six months to complete.

Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz), of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 947W, on community relations: extremism, what projects  (a) were implemented in 2007-08 and  (b) will have been implemented in 2008-09 to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation under the Prevent strand of Project Contest.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The following projects were implemented to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation in 2007-08:
	Two police-led local multi-agency initiatives.
	One directly-funded intervention project.
	The following projects are being or will have been implemented to support institutions or individuals vulnerable to radicalisation in 2008-09:
	Eight projects supporting schools and further and higher education institutions.
	13 police-led projects aimed at delivering Objectives 23 of the Prevent Strategy.
	40 projects across the youth justice estate
	Two directly-funded intervention projects
	Nine police-led local multi-agency initiatives
	Guidance on ethical considerations when undertaking research into extremism.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 974W, on waste management: South East, what guidance the Waste Improvement Network has given to local authorities on the collection of household waste.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Waste Improvement Network (WIN) has been developed by the Improvement and Efficiency South East (IESE) to bring together waste management information and to support local authorities in procurement and decision making. IESE is one of nine Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) which support local government efficiency and improvement.
	WIN does not provide direct advice. It provides information, including case studies and reports on activity in and experiences of councils around the country. This helps to ensure councils are up to date on what other councils are doing and able to learn from one another's experiences.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funds were  (a) allocated to and  (b) drawn down by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessors in each of the last five years expressed in (i) cash terms and (ii) 2008-09 prices.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1076-77W, on the 2008-09 budget for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
	The predecessor bodies for the HCA were English Partnerships (consisting of the Urban Regeneration Agency and the Commission for New Towns), the (investment arm of the) Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. A range of departmental programmes also transferred to the Agency.
	The funds allocated to Departmental programmes, to English Partnerships (via the Urban Regeneration Agency), the Housing Corporation and the Academy since 2005-06, can be found in the main supply and supplementary estimates. Information on departmental programme spending over the last five years has been published in departmental annual reports. The last five years' spending figures for English Partnerships and the Corporation can be found in their published annual report and accounts each year; spending by the academy was consolidated within the annual report and accounts of its parent organisation, Yorkshire Forward. Government uses the GDP deflator to allow for the effects of changes in prices. This can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_index.htm

Housing Associations: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many representations she has received from housing associations on their financial position in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing Stock

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the net change in local authority housing stock was in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many homes from local authority housing stock were disposed of in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information on the amount of local authority owned housing stock is collected from local authorities on the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return. This information is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 116:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140882.xls
	The annual net changes in local authority housing stocks in each year since 1 April 1997 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Net change in local authority housing stock: England, 1997 to 2008 
			   Net change 
			 1997-98 -91,000 
			 1998-99 -132,000 
			 1999-2000 -166,000 
			 2000-01 -200,000 
			 2001-02 -106,000 
			 2002-03 -249,000 
			 2003-04 -122,000 
			 2004-05 -169,000 
			 2005-06 -78,000 
			 2006-07 -100,000 
			 2007-08 -117,000 
			  Notes: 1. Net change is measured between the figure for housing stock at 1 April each year. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.  Source: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) 
		
	
	Information on disposals of local authority stock can be estimated from information on Right to Buy, other local authority sales, large-scale voluntary transfers and small scale transfers to registered social landlords, and demolitions.
	Information on all sales of local authority stock (including large-scale voluntary transfers and small scale transfers to registered social landlords, Right to Buy sales and other local authority sales) is collected from local authorities on the Quarterly Housing Monitoring (P1B) return. This information is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 674:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table-674.xls
	Information on local authority demolitions is reported by local authorities, for the financial year, on the Business Plan Statistical Appendix (BPSA) return.
	Disposals of local authority housing stocks in each financial year since 1997-98 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Local authority stock disposals: England, 1997 to 2008 
			   Right to Buy sales( 1)  Other sales( 1)  Transfers to registered social landlords( 1)  Demolitions( 1) 
			 1997-98 41,330 750 35,700 8,810 
			 1998-99 40,270 820 76,540 8,720 
			 1999-00 54,250 710 96,760 10,020 
			 2000-01 52,380 630 132,460 13,870 
			 2001-02 51,970 490 35,690 14,500 
			 2002-03 63,390 760 165,980 11,050 
			 2003-04 69,580 410 39,220 8,490 
			 2004-05 49,980 390 101,580 8,450 
			 2005-06 26,660 290 48,440 6,250 
			 2006-07 16,900 500 78,790 4,650 
			 2007-08 11,960 300 94,220 5,100 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Demolition data between 1997-98 and 1999-2000 were collected via the Housing Investment Programme Annual Plan (HIPAP). Between 2001-02 and 2007-08 data were collected via the BPSA. Data from the HIPAP may not be as reliable as data from the BPSA.  Sources: 1. Quarterly Housing Monitoring (PI B) for information on Right to Buy, Other sales and Transfers to Registered Social Landlords. 2. Business Ran Statistical Appendix (BPSA) for information on demolitions. 
		
	
	Net changes in stock (table 1) may not be wholly consistent with the sum of stock disposals (table 2) due to different data sources and collection methods, and because net changes to stock also include additions.

Local Government: Elections

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid to electoral returning officers across the UK in respect of the elections held in May 2008; whether these payments were mandatory; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Payments to electoral returning officers for local government elections are a matter for local authorities. Under section 36(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, all expenditure properly incurred by a returning officer in relation to the holding of a local council election must be paid by that council. The information requested is therefore not held centrally.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department have been assigned to work on the  (a) implementation and  (b) administration of the (i) Mortgage Rescue Scheme and (ii) Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme.

Margaret Beckett: Three members of the Department's staff are working on implementation and administration of the Mortgage Rescue scheme. Four members of the Department's staff are working on implementation of the Homeowners Mortgage Support scheme. Once the scheme is launched, administration will be delivered through an external delivery body in partnership with the core team.

Multiple Occupation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have  (a) applied for,  (b) been granted and  (c) been refused (i) additional and (ii) selective houses in multiple occupation licensing powers.

Iain Wright: One local authority, Peterborough city council, has been granted approval to operate an additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation under the Housing Act 2004. The Department is currently considering applications for additional licensing schemes from Oxford city council, London borough of Hounslow and Breckland district council.
	The following local authorities have been granted approval to operate selective licensing schemes for privately rented property under the Housing Act 2004:
	Salford City Council
	Middlesbrough Borough Council
	Manchester City Council (Three Schemes)
	Gateshead Borough Council
	Sedgefield Borough Council
	Burnley Borough Council
	Bolton Borough Council
	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (Two Schemes)
	Easington District Council
	Hartlepool Borough Council
	The Department is currently considering further applications for selective licensing schemes from Salford city council and Manchester city council.
	We invite local authorities to work with CLG officials in the development of their proposals so that the applications when submitted are consistent with published criteria. This has meant that the Secretary of State has not refused any applications.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review the methodology for  (a) calculation and  (b) distribution of small business rate relief for the purposes of harmonising the mechanisms used in England and Wales.

John Healey: A business is eligible for small business rate relief if its sole or main property has a rateable value of less than 15,000 (or 21,500 in Greater London); and each additional property it occupies, if any, has a rateable value of no more than 2,200; and the total rateable value of all of its properties is less than 15,000 (21,500 in Greater London).
	The current eligibility criteria targets rate relief to small businesses and excludes low value properties occupied by larger concerns so that small business rate relief is targeted on businesses that most need it.

Private Rented Housing: Disadvantaged

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of vulnerable people in each vulnerability group lived in decent private sector homes in each year since 2002; and what estimate she has made of the proportion doing so in 2008-09.

Iain Wright: The English House Condition Survey has published estimates of the proportion of vulnerable households living in decent private sector homes since 2001. Available figures are provided in the following table. The Decent Homes standard was updated in 2006 when the introduction of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System replaced the Fitness Standard as the statutory tool for assessing housing conditions. Figures based on the updated definition from 2006 are not comparable with those based on the original definition. An estimate for 2008 will be published in 2010.
	
		
			  Percentage of private sector vulnerable households living in decent homes 
			   Decent homes standard: 
			   Original definition  Updated definition 
			 2001 57.3  
			 2003 62.8  
			 2004 65.5  
			 2005 66.1  
			 2006 67.7 58.8 
			 2007  61.0 
			  Note: Vulnerable households are those in receipt of principal means tested and disability related benefits. There is no estimate for 2002.  Source: English House Condition Survey

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children In Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care in 2008 had had more than  (a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements whilst in care.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of children who were in care in 2008 who had more than  (a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements while they were in care in England is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Children who were looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008 by the number of foster placements since they started to be looked after( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) , year ending 31 March 2008Coverage: England 
			  Number 
			  More than:  Number of foster placements during time in care 
			 3 15,000 
			 5 6,400 
			 10 1,200 
			 20 150 
			 30 30 
			 40 20 
			 50 10 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures shown are cumulative. (3) The number of foster placements excludes any episodes of care where children were looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (4)( )To ensure that no individual can be identified from statistical tables, we use conventions for the rounding and suppression of very small numbers. National figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 or to the nearest 10 otherwise.  Source: SSDA903

Children In Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children at each age of first being taken into care who left care in 2008 had had more than  (a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements whilst they were in care.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of children of each age of first being taken into care who left care in 2008 who had more than  (a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements while they were in care in England can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Appointments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which former  (a) hon. Members who left Parliament since 1997 and  (b) Members of the House of Lords from each party have been appointed to positions on public bodies within his Department's responsibility; and who made each appointment.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) capital funds and  (b) resource funds his Department has brought forward from its (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 budgets for use in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10; and what schemes this funding is being used to support.

Jim Knight: Department for Children Schools and Families have identified:
	 (a) Nil amounts to be brought forward to be spent in 2008-09.
	 (b) Up to 927.5 million to be brought forward from the 2010-11 financial year to the 2009-10 financial year as provided in the table:
	
		
			   000 
			  Programme  Capital a mount  Resource a mount  Total 
			 Primary Capital Strategy 76,149 0 76,149 
			 City Technology College 147 0 147 
			 Locally Co-ordinated Voluntary Aided Programmes 50,684 0 50,684 
			 Devolved Formula Capital -Voluntary Aided Schools 72,325 0 72,325 
			 Devolved Formula Capital 311,565 0 311,565 
			 Local Authority Modernisation 234,523 0 234,523 
			 Targeted Capital14-19 Diplomas and Special Educational Needs 142,526 0 142,526 
			 Devolved Formula Capital-Academies 5,195 0 5,195 
			 Devolved Formula Capital-Non Maintained Special Schools 886 0 886 
			 Playing Opportunities 30,000 2,500 32,500 
			 Total 924,000 2,500 927,500

Education: Per Capita Costs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much his Department and its predecessor spent per pupil in secondary education in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much his Department and its predecessor spent per pupil in primary education in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to Local authorities so the requested information for Castle Point constituency is not available. In addition it is for local authorities to determine how they spend their funds locally. The per pupil revenue funding figures for primary and secondary schools pupils for England and Essex local authority in 2004-05 and 2005-06 are as follows. These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			  Real terms revenue funding per pupilEFS plus grants 
			   
			England  Essex 
			 Primary pupils (3-10 years) 2004-05 3,850 3,740 
			  2005-06 4,080 3,920 
			 
			 Secondary pupils (11-15 years) 2004-05 4,830 4,710 
			  2005-06 5,020 4,840 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: Real terms at 2007-08 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 25 November 2008 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education formula spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DFES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-15 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. The pupil numbers used to convert  million figures to  per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations. 5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 6. Status: Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the table below are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with those for the years 2004-05 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 2004-05 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. The DSG is based largely on an authority's previous spending. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year.
	The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 (baseline) to 2008-09 for England and Essex local authority are provided in the following table. As the DSG is a mechanism for distributing funding, a split between primary and secondary schools is not available. The figures below are for all funded pupils aged 3-19 and are in real terms:
	
		
			  Real-terms revenue funding per pupilDSG plus grants 
			   
			  All pupils (3-19 years)  England  Essex 
			 2005-06 (baseline) 4,230 4,030 
			 2006-07 4,370 4,150 
			 2007-08 4,530 4,290 
			 2008-09 4,550 4,310 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Real terms at 2007-08 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 25 November 2008. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-19. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

Education: Per Capita Costs

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on average per pupil in primary education in  (a) Braintree constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much on average his Department spent per pupil in secondary education in  (a) Braintree constituency,  (b) Essex and  (c) England in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The Department allocates education funding to local authorities so the requested information for Braintree constituency is not available. In addition it is for local authorities to determine how they spend their funds locally. The per pupil revenue funding figures for primary and secondary schools pupils for England and Essex local authority in 2004-05 and 2005-06 are as follows. These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			  Real terms revenue funding per pupil ()EFS plus grants 
			   England  Essex 
			  Primary pupils (3-10 years)   
			 2004-05 3,850 3,740 
			 2005-06 4,080 3,920 
			  Secondary pupils (11-15 years)   
			 2004-05 4,830 4,710 
			 2005-06 5,020 4,840 
			  Notes: 1. Price Base: Real terms at 2007-08 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 25 November 2008. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of Education Formula Spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS. 3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged three-15 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. The pupil numbers used to convert  million figures to  per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations. 5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 6. Status: Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal. 
		
	
	The revenue per pupil figures shown in the following table are taken from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) which was introduced in April 2006. They are not comparable with those for the years 2004-05 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 2004-05 to 2005-06 figures are based on Education Formula Spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. The DSG is based largely on an authority's previous spending. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department have isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year.
	The per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 (baseline) to 2008-09 for England and Essex local authority are provided in the following table. As the DSG is a mechanism for distributing funding, a split between primary and secondary schools is not available. The figures below are for all funded pupils aged three-19 and are in real terms:
	
		
			  Real terms revenue funding per pupil ()DSG plus grants 
			  All pupils (three-19 years)  England  Essex 
			 2005-06 (baseline) 4,230 4,030 
			 2006-07 4,370 4,150 
			 2007-08 4,530 4,290 
			 2008-09 4,550 4,310 
			  Notes: 1. This covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund as well as funding from the Learning and Skills Council; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price Base: Real terms at 2007-08 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 25 November 2008. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged three-19 years. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 5. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.

National Safeguarding Delivery Unit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to  (a) establish and  (b) publish timescales for the implementation of Lord Laming's recommendations;
	(2)  when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to have developed guidance on referral and assessment systems for children affected by domestic violence, adult mental health problems and drugs and alcohol misuse;
	(3)  how many regional representatives the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit will have;
	(4)  who will appoint staff to the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit;
	(5)  when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to make its first annual report to Parliament;
	(6)  what powers the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit will have to examine local authority documentation;
	(7)  by what date he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to be fully operational;
	(8)  how many people will be employed in the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit when it is at full operational strength; what the unit's budget will be for 2009-10; and from what sources its budget will be drawn;
	(9)  what powers the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit will have beyond those already held by his Department.

Beverley Hughes: The Government have accepted all the recommendations made by Lord Laming in his recent report, The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report. These include the establishment of a National Safeguarding Delivery Unit .The Government's immediate response to Lord Laming, published on 12 March, explained that the new Unit would provide support and challenge to local authorities, promote dynamic learning and good practice development, including through sector-led approaches, and act as a bridge between national policy development and local implementation. The Government have undertaken to publish a detailed action plan in response to Lord Laming's recommendations by the end of April.
	This will set out the action to be taken to establish the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit and timescales for the delivery of action in response to all Lord Laming's recommendations.

Offences against Children

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department plans to publish its guidance on sexually exploited children.

Beverley Hughes: We expect to publish guidance on safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation in the spring.

Pupil Referral Units

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupil referral units have been placed in special measures in the last 18 months; and in which local authority areas such units are.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 February 2009
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HMCI Christine Gilbert will be replying and a copy will be placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 4 March 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	The following table shows the pupil referral units that have been placed in special measures from the 1 April 2007 to the 31 December 2008.
	
		
			  Pupil Referral Units placed in special measures between the 1 April 2007 to 31 December 2008 (12 pupil referral units) 
			  URN  School name  LA name 
			 120769 Central Area Pupil Referral Unit Norfolk 
			 113657 Pupil Referral Unit, Poole Poole 
			 131193 Havering KS4 PRU Havering 
			 125813 Area B - Out of School Learning Service West Sussex 
			 108754 Sunderland Pupil Referral Unit Sunderland 
			 134298 Mill Road Pupil Referral Unit, Ipors Centre Liverpool 
			 115838 The Bridge Education Centre Hampshire 
			 134880 Burton PRU Staffordshire 
			 112096 West Cumbria Learning Centre Cumbria 
			 133755 Lansdown Tuition Centre Bath and North East Somerset 
			 134348 Student Support Service PRU Leicestershire 
			 134522 The Ruiz Centre Walsall 
		
	
	The number and lists of schools causing concern are published each term on the Ofsted website.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the right hon. Jim Knight, MP, Minister of State for Schools and learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Schools: Fires

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many fires in schools in England were recorded in each month in each of the last four years.

Jim Knight: The figures for school fires provided by Communities and Local Government are given as follows. They are for fires attended by Local Fire and Rescue Services and do not include fires that were not attended by the Fire and Rescue Services.
	
		
			  Fires in schools by month of call, England  2004-07 
			  Month of call  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Total 1,229 1,102 1,075 829 
			 January 122 102 107 90 
			 February 82 98 94 82 
			 March 178 95 116 54 
			 April 94 86 88 70 
			 May 108 98 94 81 
			 June 100 105 100 51 
			 July 81 107 90 68 
			 August 65 63 52 39 
			 September 88 79 73 91 
			 October 66 92 71 55 
			 November 158 120 111 108 
			 December 88 57 78 40 
			  Note: Figures for 2007 are provisional and subject to change.

Science: GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of comprehensive schools offer GCSEs in the separate sciences to all pupils, broken down by local authority.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold information on subjects offered by schools. The number of comprehensive schools in each local authority that entered one or more pupils in separate sciences has been placed in the House Libraries.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils with  (a) statements of and  (b) non-statemented special educational needs achieved an A* to C in both English and mathematics GCSE in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: Figures are available for the years 2006-08 only, and are provided in the table:
	
		
			  Pupils( 1)  in maintained schools with a statement of special education needs (SEN) and with SEN but without a statement achieving A*-C in both English and Mathematics GCSE, 2006-08( 2) 
			   Pupils with a statement of SEN  Pupils with SEN but without a statement 
			 2006 1,072 8,990 
			 2007 1,101 11,645 
			 2008 1,284 16,431 
			 (1) Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 (2) Figures are based on final data in 2006 and 2007 and revised data in 2008  Source: National Pupil Database

Special Educational Needs

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children with special educational needs who do not have a statement.

Jim Knight: As at January 2008, there were 1,390,670 children with special educational needs who do not have a statement. This figure is contained in Table 1b of the Statistical First Release Special Educational Needs in England, January 2008 available via
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000794/index.shtml

Teachers: Sick Leave

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many teachers had a period of absence attributed to stress in the last four years for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the cost to  (a) schools and  (b) other education providers of teacher absence attributed to stress was in the last four years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Truancy: Fines

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire were (i) fined and (ii) imprisoned for their children's non-attendance at school in each of the last five years.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Ministry of Justice collects data for England and Wales on prosecutions brought against parents under the Education Act 1996 for the offence under s444(1) of failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school; and for prosecutions under s444(1A), the aggravated offence of knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly. It is possible, because of the way courts record data that some data is collected under the more general heading of various offences under the Education Act 1996.
	The information on the number of parents sentenced and given fines or immediate custodial sentences in the Hertfordshire area is detailed in the table. The Ministry of Justice only collects information on prosecutions based on police force regions.
	The Department also collects and publishes data on penalty notices (fines) issued by local authorities in England to parents for not ensuring their child's regular attendance at school. The figures for the last four school academic years since the data collection began are detailed in the table. Data are only collected at local authority level.
	
		
			  Adults sentenced for child truanting offences( 1)  in the Hertfordshire police force area, 2003-07 
			Fined  Immediate custody 
			 2003 Parent failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school 6 0 
			  Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 10 0 
			 
			 2004 Parent failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school 17 0 
			  Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 6 0 
			 
			 2005 Parent failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school 26 0 
			  Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 1 0 
			 
			 2006 Parent failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school 47 0 
			  Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 0 0 
			 
			 2007 Parent failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school 42 1 
			  Parent knowing that their child is failing to attend school regularly without reasonable justification to cause him or her to attend school 0 0 
			 (1) These data are extracted on the principal offence basis. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  School academic yearpenalty notices for non attendance  England  Hertfordshire LA 
			 1 September 2004 to 31 July 2005 3,843 9 
			 1 August 2005 to 1 September 2006 12,150 10 
			 2 September 2006 to 31 August 2007 14,625 28 
			 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008 18,291 82 
			  Source: Department for Children, Schools and Families data March 2009

Young People

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the  (a) capability and  (b) capacity of local authorities to deliver the changes to the machinery of local government required in respect of his Department's policy for 14 to 19 year olds.

Jim Knight: As part of the transfer of commissioning of 16-19 education and training from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to local authorities we have asked that local authorities work together in sub-regional groups that reflect the travel to learn patterns of young people.
	The Department developed a two stage process to assess the capability and capacity of local authorities as they prepare for the transfer. In stage one, in September 2008, the Department asked local authorities to provide information on the sub-regional group they would be working in. A national panel reviewed the information and provided feedback in October.
	The second stage of this process is now underway. The local authorities in each sub-regional group have provided information on how the they will operate, including: governance, resources, capacity and policy and planning to ensure they can undertake their future commissioning roles effectively. These proposals have been submitted to the Department and a national panel has been convened on 8 April to review them, identify any strengths and weaknesses and what support might be required.
	Following on from the national panel the Department will be working with Government Offices, the Learning and Skills Council, The Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Children's Services, the Association of Colleges and the Association of Learning Providers to ascertain what progress has been made, what further capacity and capability issues might have arisen, but also to identify and share good practice.
	Subject to the successful passage of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learners Bill the Department plans to transfer around 1000 Learning and Skills Council staff to local authorities as we recognise they have the expertise, knowledge and appropriate skills required by local authorities.
	To support local authorities through this process and help them develop their capacity and capability, the Department funded the REACT (Raising Expectations Action) programme from November 2008. This programme provides a package of support for local authorities to assist help build capacity and understanding through the transition period. It has been developed with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children's Services.
	In addition a wider 20 million commissioning support programme for Children's Trusts was launched in September 2008 which includes a specific strand of support focussed on pre-19 commissioning.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Nuclear Free Zones

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government have spent on legal assistance for African states to develop the Pelindaba treaty.

Gillian Merron: We are not aware of any UK funding of legal assistance for African states to develop the treaty of Pelinaba.

Binyam Mohamed

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports  (a) his predecessors and  (b) officials in his Department received on the location of Mr Binyam Mohamed between May 2002 and May 2004; and what steps the Government took to ascertain (i) his whereabouts and (ii) the conditions in which he was being held during that period.

Bill Rammell: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence matters. The High Court's Judgment in the case of R (Binyam Mohamed)  v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 21 August 2008 said,
	it is clear that the United States authorities have never informed either the SyS or any other part of the United Kingdom Government about BM's whereabouts in the period between 17 May 2002 and his transfer to Bagram in May 2004.
	In giving evidence to the Intelligence and Security Committee in 2006, the then director general of the Security Service stated that
	[This] is a case where, with hindsight, we would regret not seeking proper full assurances at the time.

Cayman Islands: Storms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the risks of a future hurricane or storm event in the Cayman Islands.

Gillian Merron: Hazard Management Cayman Islands is a public authority with responsibility for the Territory's disaster preparedness. Their contingency plans, which incorporate lessons learnt from Hurricane Paloma in November 2008, will be fully tested in May 2009.

Colombia: Armed Conflict

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the number of extra-judicial killings by members of the security forces in Colombia in 2008.

Gillian Merron: We have received no reports of extra-judicial killings by members of the security forces in Colombia committed in 2009. I issued a statement on the issue on 30 October 2008 in which I said that the Colombian Government's decision to dismiss a number of army officers as a result of recent extra-judicial killings and cases of criminal conspiracy was important. It is vital, not least for Colombia's international reputation, that the Government and courts continue to show a determination to deal with human rights abuses committed by members of the armed forces, and that those convicted by the civilian justice system are punished appropriately.
	The statement of 30 October 2008 is available for viewing online at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressRid=8365817

Colombia: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Colombia.

Gillian Merron: We remain deeply concerned by the human rights situation in Colombia. Many vulnerable groups including the indigenous, civil society organisations, trade unionists and human rights defenders face violence and intimidation.
	I pressed the need for stronger action on human rights with Colombian vice-President Francisco Santos Calderon during a meeting in November 2008, and also during separate meetings with the Colombian Foreign Minister and the Colombian ambassador in London.
	The UK is funding a broad range of projects to promote human rights in Colombia, alongside international and civil society partners.

Colombia: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Colombia on human rights.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, column 618W, on Colombia: Human Rights.

Colombia: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the human rights situation in Colombia.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has held no discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the human rights situation in Colombia. However he discussed Colombia with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in November 2008.
	The numbers and plight of internally displaced persons in Colombia is a serious concern, which is why we have supported projects on the issue implemented by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Colombia.

Colombia: Military Aid

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answers of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1195-6W and 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 358W, on Colombia: armed forces, for what reason the per capita cost of providing training to members of the Colombian armed forces decreased between 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Gillian Merron: An increased number of individuals attended training workshops in 2007-08, which decreased the per capita cost, but not the overall cost, of this training. The cost of our bi-lateral human rights and demining programmes with the Colombian armed forces covers flights, expenses and administration costs of the UK trainers involved.

Cuba: Political Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of people convicted of the crime of social dangerousness in Cuba in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: We are very concerned about the use of charges of social dangerousness in Cuba to arrest those whom the Cuban authorities believe may cause a crime in the future.
	During Cuba's review at the Human Rights Council in February 2009, the UK recommended that Cuba refrain from using such laws to restrict the rights of freedom of expression and association.
	The Cuban government does not publish statistics on the number of people convicted on these grounds, but the non-governmental Cuban commission for human rights and national reconciliation, estimates that there are currently between 3,000 and 5,000 people in prison in Cuba convicted of pre-criminal social dangerousness.
	Our embassy in Havana has requested these figures from the Cuban authorities and I will write if we receive a reply.

Departmental Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department has settled within 10 days of receipt in the last four months.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 24 March 2009
	The percentage of invoices settled within-10 days in each of the last four months is:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 November 70.3 
			 December 76.5 
			 January 73.2 
			 February 83.1 
		
	
	These figures measure payments made in the UK. Identifying these figures from overseas missions would mean disproportionate cost.

Departmental Electricity Generation

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) capital and  (b) maintenance expenditure his Department has incurred on standby diesel generators for back-up electricity supply of his Department's estate in each year since March 1997.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 25 March 2009
	Budgets for capital and maintenance expenditure are devolved to Foreign and Commonwealth missions overseas.
	The information is not held centrally and it is not possible to obtain an answer without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Gillian Merron: None. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no empty, owned, public buildings on its UK Estate.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much capital spending is planned to be brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Gillian Merron: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The FCO does not plan to bring forward any expenditure to 2008-09.
	 (b) The FCO does not plan to bring forward any expenditure to 2009-10.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1746W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by his Department in each year since 2005-06.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) (i) The estimated annual salary costs for permanent staff recruited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) , including staff recruited on fixed term contracts of employment of one year or more, in each of the last four financial years is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 4.253 
			 2006-07 7.427 
			 2007-08 3.639 
			 2008-09 5.508 
		
	
	These are not the actual pay costs of the staff recruited but have been calculated using the numbers recruited given in the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1746W, and the average salary, employers national insurance and employers pension contribution rates for the relevant financial years.
	 (a) (ii) The annual salary costs for permanent staff recruited by FCO Services, including staff recruited on fixed term contracts of employment of one year or more, in each of the last four financial years is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 1.351 
			 2006-07 2.464 
			 2007-08 1.463 
			 2008-09 2.645 
		
	
	These costs have been calculated on the same basis as at  (a) (i).
	 (b) It is difficult to identify the individual costs of temporary staff, who may work irregular hours, and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. The total FCO costs for temporary staff, including those recruited in-year and reported in the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1746W, for the four financial years were:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 8.799 
			 2006-07 5.007 
			 2007-08 1.480 
			 2008-09 2.381 
		
	
	The figure for 2008-09 is projected using the expenditure for the first three quarters.
	 (c) Total FCO costs for agency staff in the four financial years were:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 3.730 
			 2006-07 3.359 
			 2007-08 5.500 
			 2008-09 5.099 
		
	
	The figure for 2008-09 is projected using the expenditure for the first three quarters.

Departmental Standards

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of measuring compliance with its targets under its public service agreements in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: Measuring compliance is an integral part of delivering the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) targets under Public Service Agreement (PSA) 30 Reduce the impact of conflicts globally. Responsibility for measuring lies with the FCO's Conflict Group supported by the Finance Directorate. We currently estimate this to be a proportion of the time of three members of staff.
	The FCO contributes but does not lead on any other PSAs, and therefore does not measure compliance on any other PSA targets.

Drugs

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what joint UK/USA initiatives are in place to tackle the production and distribution of drugs.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with our partners in government to contribute to the delivery of the Government counter narcotics objectives. Within Whitehall the lead for international drugs policy rests with the Home Office.
	The UK is in direct and regular political, diplomatic and law enforcement contact with the relevant US authorities in London, Washington and other key locations such as Colombia and Afghanistan. UK and US law enforcement officers work alongside each other in drug producing and transit countries to disrupt production and trafficking. More specifically as part of our co-operation to tackle the illicit drugs trade in Afghanistan, with the US we have jointly established both the Joint Narcotics Analysis Centre and the Inter-agency Operations Coordination Centre to improve law enforcement co-ordination mechanisms.

Electoral Register

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many leaflets promoting overseas voter registration were sent to each British mission overseas in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 'Going to live abroad' leaflet provides information on overseas voter registration. 7,953 of these leaflets were distributed in the last 12 months to the following diplomatic missions overseas:
	Accra (100)
	Addis Ababa (50)
	Alicante (100)
	Almaty (40)
	Ankara (500)
	Athens (400)
	Bangkok (300)
	Banjul (50)
	Beirut (250)
	Belmopan (50)
	Boston (50)
	Brisbane (150)
	Budapest (40)
	Cape Town (50)
	Caracas (50)
	Chennai (25)
	Dubai (100)
	Goa (100)
	Ho Chin Minh (100)
	Hong Kong (50)
	Jakarta (300)
	Kampala (50)
	Karachi (20)
	Kyiv (100)
	Kigali (200)
	Kolkata (25)
	La Paz (50)
	Las Palmas (20)
	Lille (50)
	Luanda (10)
	Lyon (10)
	Manila (300)
	Madrid (60)
	Malaga (250)
	Montenegro (500)
	Montevideo (100)
	Moscow (300)
	Mumbai (50)
	Munich (10)
	Muscat (100)
	New Delhi (25)
	New York (50)
	Panama City (250)
	Palma (200)
	Perth (100)
	Phnom Penh (40)
	Port Louis (50)
	Port Moresby (200)
	Pretoria (100)
	Rome (250)
	Sarajevo (5)
	Stockholm (30)
	Suva (200)
	Tashkent (20).
	In addition to this, 6,350 Electoral Commission 'Overseas Voters' leaflets were sent to the following diplomatic missions overseas:
	Madrid (5,000)
	Malaga (1,000)
	Palma de Mallorca (100)
	Lisbon (250)
	Portimao (50).

Ethiopia: Economic Situation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Ethiopia on its economy.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the International Development Secretary discussed the G20 summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on 16 March 2009. My noble Friend, right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, also raised economic issues with Prime Minister Meles during their meeting on 2 February 2009.
	Our ambassador in Addis Ababa discusses economic issues with Ethiopian ministers on a regular basis.

Falkland Islands: Landmines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in de-mining operations in the Falkland Islands.

Gillian Merron: Immediately following the conflict, approximately 1,855 mines were removed and destroyed.
	In total, the 117 mined areas that remain cover just over 13 sq km and contain an estimated 20,000 land mines. Clearing these mined areas presents significant technical and environmental challenges, covering as they do a wide range of terrain including sand dunes, rock screes and peat.
	Under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), the UK has an obligation to clear these mined areas by March 2019. A Feasibility Study on the clearance of landmines in the Falkland Islands was completed in October 2007. In November 2008, the Government announced their decision to proceed with the clearance of selected mined areas. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is now taking forward the procurement process to carry out this de-mining, and has established a National Mine Action Authority (which includes representatives from the Falkland Islands Government) to oversee this. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a Prior Information Notice on 20 February 2009 for the contract which we will put out to tender.
	In the meantime, in full compliance with the Ottawa Convention, the mined areas are clearly marked, fenced and regularly monitored.

Falkland Islands: Landmines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many deaths have occurred from accidents involving land mines in the Falkland Islands in each of the last 20 years.

Gillian Merron: Since the end of the conflict in 1982 there have been no deaths involving land mines in the Falkland Islands.

Falkland Islands: Landmines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been provided to the Falkland Islands government for the purposes of de-mining operations in the last five years.

Gillian Merron: No funding has been provided to the Falkland Islands for the purposes of de-mining. As the state party to the Ottawa Convention it is the responsibility of the Government to clear the mined areas in the Falkland Islands.
	There is a Ministry of Defence funded Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment permanently based in the Falkland Islands that regular monitors the mined areas and disposes of mines that surface.

Hezbollah

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of levels of  (a) political,  (b) financial and  (c) military support given by the governments of (i) Syria and (ii) Iran to Hezbollah.

Bill Rammell: We assess that the Syrian and Iranian Governments continue to provide significant financial and military support to Hezbollah, although we are unable quantify the precise amounts. Both the Syrian and Iranian Governments provide political support for Hezbollah and we call on both Governments to cease this support, which only increases instability in the region.

Hungary: Antisemitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of incidents of anti-Semitism in Hungary since January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: None.

Iran: Politics and Government

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on the political situation in Iran.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Iran and other matters with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 3 February 2009 and 18 March 2009. These discussions covered a broad range of issues, including the political situation in Iran.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also been in regular contact with the US Administration as it undertakes a review of its Iran policy.

Ireland

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Irish counterpart on UK-Irish relations.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met the Irish Foreign Minister, Michel Martin, for discussions on UK-Irish relations and European issues during his visit to Dublin on 11 September 2008.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the reply to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 390-1W, on what date in December 2008 he was first made aware that rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza.

Bill Rammell: We monitor rocket attacks from Gaza closely and make very clear our condemnation of them. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Sderot in November 2008 and I visited Ashkelon in December 2008 to see the effects. Our embassy in Tel Aviv reported rockets being fired at Israel on 3 December 2008.
	However, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is also well aware of the rocket attacks against Israel over the past several years.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the  (a) social and  (b) economic effects of rocket and mortar attacks fired from the Gaza Strip on residents in southern Israel.

Bill Rammell: Our ambassador and officials in Tel Aviv frequently travel to towns in southern Israel that have been subject to indiscriminate rocket fire from terrorist groups in Gaza. They have called on schools, hospitals, families and community leaders in and around Sderot and Ashkelon to assess the impact of rocket and mortar attacks.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also visited Sderot in November 2008, and I visited Ashkelon in December 2008. In recent months the frequency and indiscriminate nature of the attacks that target citizens has had a highly damaging impact on people's everyday lives in these areas. The extent of the psychological damage, especially to children, is clear. In addition to the psychological damage to children, the need to shelter from attacks while at school has had a disruptive effect on education. Likewise, the general disruption and physical threat of rocket fire has impeded economic growth and deterred investment. We continue to condemn all terrorist attacks, on southern Israel and elsewhere.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the findings of the EU Heads of Mission report on East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the contents of an internal report that was leaked to the press. We have made clear our position that we believe that a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis will mean, among other things, the creation of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. We are strongly opposed to any attempts to change the facts on the ground in East Jerusalem by excluding Palestinians from the city and by increasing the number of settlers living there. Such acts raise tensions and undermine prospects for peace. We have made these concerns known to the Israelis both in private and in public, most recently in the form of statements by the EU on the threat of house demolitions in Silwan village and house evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of Israelis killed in terrorist attacks since 3 February 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs there have been two Israelis killed in terrorist attacks since 3 February 2009. The UK condemns all terrorist activity. We call on all groups to pursue their objectives through peaceful means: the only way forward in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is through dialogue; violence can lead nowhere but to more violence and suffering.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent EU Heads of Mission Report on East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 26 March 2009
	 The EU Heads of Mission Report on East Jerusalem is a classified document. It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on the contents of an internal report that was leaked to the press.

St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid in subsidy from the public purse in respect of St. Helena in each of the last 10 financial years; and what estimate he has made of the subsidy to be paid in each of the next five years.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	Support to St. Helena from the Department for International Development over the last ten years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   DFID support ( million) 
			 1998-99 8.8 
			 1999-2000 9.4 
			 2000-01 10.1 
			 2001-02 10.1 
			 2002-03 9.6 
			 2003-04 10.5 
			 2004-05 14.5 
			 2005-06 13.6 
			 2006-07 15.7 
			 2007-08 17.6 
		
	
	DFID support over the next five years, including 2008-09, is expected to be between 20 million and 25 million per annum. This does not include capital expenditure on future access arrangements following the outcome of the consultation announced on 16 March.

St. Helena: National Income

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual per capita gross domestic product was of St. Helena in each of the last 10 years.

Gillian Merron: St. Helena Government are responsible for producing these statistics. Their electronic data only go as far back as 2000-01 and I understand that the figure for 2008-09 is not yet available. The per capita gross domestic product (GDP) for each of the last eight years is:
	
		
			
			 2007-08 4,180.35 
			 2006-07 3,453.00 
			 2005-06 3,099.77 
			 2004-05 3,246.01 
			 2003-04 3,018.94 
			 2002-03 2,927.40 
			 2001-02 2,582.19 
			 2000-01 2,538.17

St. Helena: Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tourists visited St. Helena in each of the last 10 years.

Gillian Merron: The St. Helena Government are responsible for keeping statistics on numbers of tourists. They have provided the figures, set out as follows, of tourists visiting St. Helena in the years 2000 to 2008. Figures for 1999 are not available.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2008 617 
			 2007 1,113 
			 2006 752 
			 2005 804 
			 2004 812 
			 2003 747 
			 2002 832 
			 2001 669 
			 2000 417

Sudan: Foreign Relations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take with his EU colleagues to impose sanctions on the government of Sudan.

Gillian Merron: While we will keep this continuously under review we are currently not proposing to take steps with our EU colleagues to impose additional sanctions on the government of Sudan.
	The EU already maintains an arms embargo covering all of Sudan, which has been in place since 2004. The EU also imposes financial and travel restrictions against four individuals who have been designated by the UN Sanctions Committee on Sudan.

Sudan: Press Freedom

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sudanese government about its use of the Press Act 2004 to censor newspapers and limit freedom of expression.

Gillian Merron: Working through the EU, we regularly raise the need to fulfil obligations on human rights with the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan. Freedom of expression and press freedom were raised with the Government of Sudan on 3 December 2008 and the Government of South Sudan on 18 November 2008.

Sudan: War Crimes

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in  (a) the EU and  (b) the UN Security Council on the prospects of bringing President Bashir to trial before the International Criminal Court following the issue of an arrest warrant for him.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had extensive discussion on the International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of President Bashir with his EU and UN Security Council counterparts, including at the 16 March 2009, EU General Affairs and External Relations Council and during his 18 March 2009 visit to Washington.
	We continue to underline in all contacts the need for Sudan to co-operate with the ICC, as well as to take concrete action for peace in Darfur. Most recent contacts have focussed on the need for the government of Sudan to reconsider its decision to expel international humanitarian non-governmental organisations.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 227W, on terrorism: finance, to which  (a) countries and  (b) projects the 20 million spent in 2008-09 on tackling radicalisation and promoting understanding overseas was allocated.

Bill Rammell: In order to protect the safety and security of organisations delivering sensitive projects overseas, we do not plan to publish a breakdown by country or by project of the 20 million allocated in 2008-09 to tackling radicalisation and promoting understanding overseas.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 226-7W, on terrorism: finance, if he will publish details of the monitoring process agreed between the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and the National Audit Office.

Bill Rammell: We have agreed a system with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and the National Audit Office under which baselines indicating the level of capability to effectively counter radicalisation in each country have been established. Projects designed to improve each country's capability are evaluated on completion to assess how they contribute to an improvement. External verification is an important part of this, and lessons learned from the evaluation are used to improve the future design of projects.

UN World Conference against Racism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will withdraw UK  (a) representation and  (b) support for the United Nations Durban II Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The UK is still engaged in the Durban Review process and we will keep our position under review. A new draft outcome document was tabled on 17 March 2009. The Government are considering their position on this document.
	The Government have expressed a consistent view on the Durban Review Conference. We want the conference to forge a collective will to fight against racism in all its forms, in all parts of the world. It should not be seen as an opportunity to press unrelated political interests and issues.

UN World Conference against Racism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries  (a) have withdrawn from and  (b) are not otherwise participating in the United Nations Durban II Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Canada and Israel have formally withdrawn from the Durban Review Conference.
	The US and Italy announced that they would not take part in negotiations on the draft document that was under negotiation, and set conditions for their re-engagement.
	This document has now been superseded by an updated version, which issued on 17 March 2009.
	The Government have expressed a consistent view on the Durban Review Conference. We want the conference to forge a collective will to fight against racism in all its forms, in all parts of the world. It should not be seen as an opportunity to press unrelated political interests and issues.

UN World Conference against Racism

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy not to attend the forthcoming Durban II Conference in Geneva; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: holding answer of 24 March 2009
	The UK is still engaged in the Durban Review process and we will keep our position under review. A new draft outcome document was tabled on 17 March 2009. The Government are considering its position on this document.
	The Government have expressed a consistent view on the Durban Review conference. We want the conference to forge a collective will to fight against racism in all its forms, in all parts of the world. It should not be seen as an opportunity to press unrelated political interests and issues.

Uzbekistan: Political Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the number of political prisoners in Uzbekistan.

Caroline Flint: We continue to be concerned by the detention of political prisoners in Uzbekistan. The recent releases from jail of prominent human rights activists Saidjahon Zainabitdinov (February 2008), Mutabar Tojibayeva (June 2008) and Dilmurod Mukhitdinov (October 2008) constitute positive steps by the Uzbek side in response to international concerns. Set against this, however, is the ongoing lack of progress in resolving other prominent cases of persons imprisoned on political groundsmost notably the dissident poet Yusuf Juma and opposition politician Sanjar Umarov, as well as two individuals jailed more recently on politically-motivated grounds: Akzam Turgunov (human rights defender sentenced to ten years imprisonment in October 2008 for extortion) and Salijon Abdurahmanov (human rights defender also sentenced to ten years for alleged drugs-related offences).
	Our embassy in Tashkent is following these cases closely. We have raised our concerns with the Uzbek Government and maintain a regular dialogue on these issues with human rights activists and non-governmental organisations. EU Heads of Mission in Tashkent maintain a list of individual cases of particular concern. These cases are among the issues covered which in the annual EU-Uzbekistan human rights dialogue.
	In December 2008 Human Rights Watch issued a non-exhaustive List of Imprisoned Uzbek Defenders and Activists, whose cases they follow closely. This report is available for viewing online at:
	http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/12/10/list-imprisoned-uzbek-defenders-and-activists

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question 259021 on China, tabled on 25 February 2009; what the reason is for the time taken to answer; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 23W. The delay in replying was due to administrative error.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the matter of the political situation in Zimbabwe at the United Nations Security Council.

Gillian Merron: The UN Security Council remains seized of the situation in Zimbabwe, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was present when it was discussed on 15 December 2008. We shall continue to work for an effective and coherent response to the situation in Zimbabwe in a range of international fora, including, where appropriate, the UN Security Council.

Zimbabwe: Sanctions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what EU sanctions are in place in respect of Zimbabwe.

Gillian Merron: The EU has maintained an embargo on arms and related material entering Zimbabwe since 2002. The EU has also prohibited the provision of any technical assistance relating to military activities and has imposed a ban on the supply of any equipment that might be used for internal repression.
	The EU has further imposed targeted financial and travel restrictions on 203 individuals and 40 entities who supported the government of Zimbabwe or were associated with its violence and human rights abuses prior to Morgan Tsvangirai's inauguration as the Zimbabwean Prime Minister. There are no comprehensive trade sanctions in place.

Zimbabwe: Sequestration of Assets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Zimbabwean  (a) politicians,  (b) civil servants,  (c) judges and  (d) members of the armed forces have assets frozen in UK banks or other financial institutions.

Gillian Merron: 54 accounts belonging to individuals subject to targeted financial and travel restrictions on Zimbabwe have been frozen in the UK. The list of those subject to these EU sanctions include members and former members of the government of Zimbabwe, business people and others associated with the violence and human rights abuses of the regime as constituted prior to the inauguration of Morgan Tsvangirai as the Zimbabwean Prime Minister.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme.

Joan Ruddock: Yes. The Department of Energy and Climate Change recently signed a contract with the Carbon Trust to embark on a Carbon Management Plan.

Departmental Written Questions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average time taken by his Department to answer parliamentary questions for  (a) ordinary and  (b) named day written answer was in the latest period for which information is available.

Mike O'Brien: Until 26 January 2009 this task was shared by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Units who monitored all parliamentary questions. This responsibility transferred to the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Parliamentary Unit on its creation on 26 January 2009.
	A DECC for December have been answered and the Department currently has nine outstanding questions that were tabled for answer in January 2009.
	Parliamentary Unit does record average times taken to reply to questions. Processes are now in place that provides the following information:
	
		
			  Written parliamentary questions: As at 25 March 2009 
			   February (Number) 
			 Monthly PQs 277 
			 Total PQs 520 
			 Answered within five days 36 
			 Answered between six and 10 days 134 
			 Answered between 11 and 15 days 35 
			 Answered between 16 and 20 days 23 
			 Answered 21 days or over 11 
			 Transferred 1 
			 Lords 41 
		
	
	
		
			  Named day PQs 
			   February (Number) 
			 Total named day questions per month 32 
			 Answered on day 0 
			 Answered within five days 13

Forestry

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the findings of the study commissioned by his Department and the Department for International Development on options for financing mechanisms for sustainable forest management will be published.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 26 March 2009
	We expect the findings of the study to be published by June this year.

Forests: Environment Protection

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how much was spent on  (a) forest protection and  (b) reducing levels of deforestation in each of the last three years; and under which budget headings such expenditure was allocated;
	(2)  how much he has allocated for  (a) forest protection and  (b) reducing levels of deforestation in each of the next three years; and under which budget headings such expenditure is to be allocated.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) does not record expenditure on forest protection or on reducing deforestation. It uses the two categories of expenditure required by the Development Aid Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): Forestry Policy and Administrative Management; and Forestry Development. Total bilateral expenditure incurred on forests in the last three financial years was: 15.5 million in 2005-06: 15.6 million in 2006-07: and 74 million in 2007-08.
	Some of the money which DFID provides to international organisations is also spent on forests but these contributions are not recorded separately. The international organisations which DFID supports and which work on forests include the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN.
	The following bilateral expenditure on forests was committed in the last three financial years:
	 2005-06
	1.5 million, Orissa Forest Sector Support Project, India.
	 2006-07
	24 million, over a five-year period, to the Forest Governance and Trade Programme to support efforts to stop illegal logging.
	140 million replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, over a four-year period, a proportion of which will be spent on forests.
	1 million, Natural Resource Management and Livelihoods Programme, Cambodia
	 2007-08
	10 million to the Congo Basin Forest Fund for start-up activities.
	50 million to the Congo Basin Forest Fund and 15 million to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, from the International Window of the Environmental Transformation Fund. In December 2008 it was announced that up to another 100 million would be made available for forests from the Environmental Transformation Fund.
	5 million for work by the Rights and Resources Initiative over a five-year period to help accelerate forest tenure, policy and market reforms.
	1.5 million to the National Forest Programme Facility over a three-year period.
	1.5 million to PROFOR (Programme on Forests of the World Bank), over a three-year period.
	1 million for work on an Economics of Climate Change Study and work low carbon development in Brazil, some of which relates to forests.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK  (a) carbon dioxide and  (b) other greenhouse gas emissions arising from (i) domestic heating, (ii) domestic air conditioning and (iii) domestic cooking appliances in each of the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: The proportion of total UK carbon dioxide emissions arising from domestic heating (space heating and water heating combined) and cooking has remained more or less constant over the last 10 years (from 1997 to 2006, the latest year for which data is available). Domestic heating represents between 18 and 19 per cent. of total UK carbon dioxide emissions, while domestic cooking represents 1 per cent. of total UK carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from domestic air conditioning are currently extremely small (estimated to be less than 0.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum which equates to around 0.02 per cent. of the UK total CO2 emissions). However, demand for air conditioning is expected to double by 2020. We have no estimates of other greenhouse gas emissions arising from these sources although these are likely to be very small as a proportion of total UK emissions.

Housing: Insulation

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance is available from his Department to enable households with solid walls to improve the insulation of their houses.

Joan Ruddock: The primary source of assistance for the insulation of solid walled homes in Great Britain is the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), which requires energy suppliers to meet targets by encouraging households to take-up energy efficiency measures. The suppliers are free to decide how to meet their targets, and will tend to focus on the most cost-effective measures, such as loft and cavity wall insulation.
	We recognise that the high up-front cost of solid wall insulation makes it difficult for suppliers to justify the investment when more cost-effective measures are available. We have therefore introduced specific incentives to help improve the financial viability of these measures, with a particular focus on solid-walled homes which are off the gas grid. Overall, suppliers installed around 40,000 solid wall measures from April 2005 to March 2008, mostly in partnership with social landlords, and around 80,000 heating measures.
	There is a particular focus on improving the energy efficiency of hard to treat properties in the package of consultations published on 12 February. The consultations can be accessed via the Department of Energy and Climate Change website:
	www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/open/open.aspx
	We also continue to assess innovative products, including solid wall insulation, for inclusion in the Warm Front schemethe Government's main fuel poverty programme in England.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of employment in the UK renewables sector of the withdrawal of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme phase 2.

Mike O'Brien: The Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) phase 2 has not been withdrawn but closed to new applications for solar PV technology only. Solar thermal, biomass, ground source heat pumps and micro wind technologies continue to receive support through the programme. We believe that current incentives and wider measures to support small scale onsite energy technologies should continue to support the development of the sector.
	LCBP Phase 2 is due to close at the end of June 2009. To date we have committed 33.2 million of the 50 million budget to support microgeneration installations in schools, public sector and local community groups. Although 33.2 million has been committed only 8.3 million has been spent. Much of the work is still to take place over the next 12 months leading up to the introduction of feed-in-tariffs in April 2010 and the renewable heat incentive in April 2011. We are also considering what further support can be made available in the intervening period.

Members: Correspondence

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letters of 5 November 2008 and 9 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Canterbury, sent on behalf of a constituent, Mr Scott Collins.

Joan Ruddock: I replied to the hon. Member on 25 March 2009 and apologise for the long delay, which was due to the departmental reorganisation.

Power Stations: Carbon Emissions

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking further to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power stations.

Mike O'Brien: The EU ETS sits at the centre of our long term strategy to deliver progressively lower emissions from electricity generation over time. From 2013, the EU ETS cap on carbon emissions will reduce by 1.74 per cent. of 2005 emissions each year, delivering an overall reduction of 21 per cent. below 2005 verified emissions by 2020. Also from 2013, all emissions allowances will be auctioned to the power sector in the UK which will provide further incentive to the sector to reduce emissions.
	DECC supports innovation in carbon abatement technologies and has launched one of the world's first full scale carbon capture and storage demonstration projects. In addition, the DECC Environmental Transformation Fund recently announced a 15 million joint call for proposals with the Technology Strategy Board and Northern Way to demonstrate component parts and pilot scale projects on carbon abatement technologies.
	The Government are also supporting the wider deployment of CCS through the introduction of the Energy Act 2008 which includes one of the first legal regimes in the world to regulate the long-term offshore storage of carbon dioxide deep underground.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Warm Front installations took  (a) more than 30,  (b) more than 60,  (c) more than 90,  (d) more than 120,  (e) more than 150 and  (f) more than 180 working days from survey to completion of the work in each of the last five years.

Joan Ruddock: Warm Front installation timescales are not recorded in the periods requested. They are recorded against the timescales put in place by the Department at the inception of the Scheme.
	These timescales are detailed in the table, which provides information from the inception of the current phase of Warm Front in 2005.
	
		
			  Warm Front Installations 
			  Percentage 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Heating  (Time Band) 
			 Within 120 days (%) 92 80 89 90 
			 Outside 120 days (%) 8 20 11 10 
			  Insulation (Time Band) 
			 Within 40 days (%) 79 75 82 72 
			 Outside 40 days (%) 21 25 18 28

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Agriculture

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1007-8W, on loans, if he will make an assessment of the likely effects on his Department's assistance programmes for smallholders in  (a) Malawi and  (b) Africa of recent increases in the price of fertiliser.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting a farm inputs subsidy programme in Malawi through our 22 million per annum budget support as well as a further 20 million commitment for agriculture over four years (2007-11). These efforts have delivered affordable seed and fertiliser to 1.5 million smallholder families, and led to a strong harvest for a fourth successive year. As a result, Malawi's economic growth reached 8.7 per cent. in 2008, and food security has significantly improved. For example, in the current lean season, 670,000 people are at risk of hunger; compared to 5 million in 2005. Despite the high fertiliser prices during 2008, we expect that our support will still help the same number of people.
	Increases in fertiliser prices were a major challenge for Africa's farmers in 2008. At a global level, prices reached a high of almost $900 per tonne in late 2008 but the price of urea has now fallen to around $300 per tonne. However, the availability of foreign exchange, which has become even scarcer in the current economic downturn, means that fertiliser use will still be limited in many countries.

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has contributed to the Africa Programme of the Conflict Prevention Pool in each year since 2001.

Michael Foster: From 2001 to 2007, the UK Government funded its conflict related programme activity through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) and Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP), owned and managed tri-departmentally by DFID, FCO and MOD. By bringing together the UK Government's development, diplomatic, and defence interests and expertise this ensured a coherent response to conflict prevention. In 2001, all three departments contributed funds to form these pools (2.1 million disbursed by the FCO; 14.4 million by DFID and 3.2 million by MOD), but in subsequent years funds have been allocated directly from HMT. The Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) was set up in April 2008 as a successor to the former Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools, focussing activity through regional programmes where the UK can have its biggest impact, and through thematic programmes to deal with cross-cutting conflict prevention issues. The CPP commands a total of 112 million in 2008-09 of which the Africa Conflict Prevention Programme is forecast to spend 68 million. From 2001-02 to 2007-08, HMG has spent approximately 341 million through the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool. This is broken down by year in the table:
	
		
			   million 
			 2001-02 19.7 
			 2002-03 45.3 
			 2003-04 47.2 
			 2004-05 63.7 
			 2005-06 48.2 
			 2006-07 57 
			 2007-08 60

Burma: HIV Infection

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated by the Three Diseases Fund to tackle HIV/AIDS in Kachin state, Burma, since the fund was established.

Michael Foster: Since it was established, the Three Diseases Fund has allocated US$2,272,000 to HIV/AIDS projects in Kachin State, Burma.

Burma: Overseas Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development through which United Nations organisations his Department channels funding for Burma-related aid and activities; and how much was channelled by his Department through each such organisation in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: During the 2008-09 financial year, the Department for International Development (DFID) has channelled funding for Burma through UN organisations as follows:
	 Cyclone Nargis emergency response:
	Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)2,271,179
	International Labour Organisation (ILO)590,810
	UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)750,000
	UN Development Programme (UNDP)1,850,000
	UN Habitat250,000
	UN Habitat and UNDP jointly600,000
	UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)300,000
	World Food Programme (WFP)12,000,000
	World Health Organisation (WHO)250,000.
	 Regular country programme:
	UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)1,560,000
	UN Development Programme (UNDP)1,569,565
	UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), for the Three Diseases Fund4,500,000
	UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)550,000
	World Food Programme (WFP)350,000.

Conflict Prevention Pool

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the future of the Conflict Prevention Pool; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-18WS.

Conflict Prevention Pool

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's priority areas are for the Conflict Prevention Pool.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID) priority areas for the Conflict Prevention Pool are consistent with those set out in PSA 30:
	A downward trend in the number of conflicts globally, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa;
	Reduced impact of conflict in specific countries and regions (Afghanistan, Iraqfunded through the Stabilisation Aid Fund, Balkans, Middle East, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region, Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Sudan);
	More effective international institutions, better able to prevent, manage and resolve conflict and build peace.
	DFID remains focused on those countries and regions considered at most risk of instability in Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statement of 25 March,  Official Report, columns 17-18WS, sets out specific priorities and changes to conflict funding in 2009-10.

Conflict Prevention Pool

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Conflict Prevention Pool funding is being spent in sub-Saharan Africa in 2008-09.

Michael Foster: The Conflict Prevention Pool is forecast to spend 68 million on sub-Saharan Africa from an overall Conflict Prevention Pool budget of 112 million in 2008-09. This works out at around 60 per cent. of the total budget.

Conflict Prevention Pool

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Conflict Prevention Pool funds are not duplicated by spending by  (a) other Government departments and  (b) international partners.

Michael Foster: The Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP) is managed and governed at all levels tri-departmentally between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). This minimises the possibility of duplicating our spending 'with other Government departments with all projects approved by tri-departmental boards and with all three departments engaged at the country or project level.
	Programme teams have long-established relationships with partner organisations and have a good understanding of our international partner interests in a region. Interventions are designed from the start to complement and not duplicate spending by other international partners.

Conflict Prevention Pool

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's plans are for the future of the Conflict Prevention Pool.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-18WS.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) will ensure that any future contracts let for cleaning services in the United Kingdom contain a provision that cleaning products used by the contractor have, wherever possible, not been tested on animals. Our existing contractors have assured us that the products they currently use have not been tested on animals.

Departmental Empty Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the change in the annual cost to his Department of maintaining the empty public buildings owned by his Department as a result of the April 2008 changes to empty property rate relief.

Michael Foster: This change does not affect the Department for International Development (DFID) as we have no empty buildings.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with allies and international agencies to encourage community and inter-communal development in Kosovo.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) works as part of the overall British Government effort to encourage community and inter-communal development in Kosovo through implementation of the UN-sponsored plan for Kosovo's supervised independence (the Ahtisaari Plan). Principles of protection and promotion of the rights of members of communities are now enshrined in Kosovo's constitution.
	DFID's activities help the Government of Kosovo establish effective state institutions as well as develop and implement policies for sustainable growth and employment. These activities complement those under the FCO-MoD-DFID Conflict Prevention Pool for the resolution of war-related property disputes, help in establishing a communities consultative council to strengthen ethnic communities' voice in policy making, and outreach to Serb communities to explain the benefits of the Ahtisaari plan.
	DFID co-ordinates closely with international partnersthe European Commission, World Bank, other bilateral donorsin order to improve the effectiveness of assistance to the Government of Kosovo and communities. Conflict Prevention Pool funding has been used to help UNDP start a programme for civic development in the divided town of Mitrovice and fund a UNDP led programme to support returns of Serb refugees.

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what dates  (a) the discussions on the construction of RMS St. Helena commenced,  (b) the approval for construction was given,  (c) construction started and  (d) the vessel commenced her maiden voyage.

Michael Foster: Economic Consultants Ltd. carried out an options study into the replacement for the original RMS St. Helena in 1984.
	Approval for her construction was given in November 1987, and a contract was signed with Hall Russell for her construction in December 1988. Her maiden voyage commenced in November 1990.

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the projected  (a) lifespan and  (b) cost of RMS St. Helena was when it was commissioned; and what the cost to the public purse was on completion.

Michael Foster: While there is no definitive figure, the RMS St. Helena could be expected to have an economic lifespan of 20 to 25 years. The RMS St. Helena has now reached a stage where Lloyds Registry and the Marine and Coastguard Agency require annual inspections in dry dock to maintain her Class 1 Passenger certificate.
	The original contract with Hall Russell for the construction of the RMS St. Helena was signed in the amount of 19.4 million. The final cost to the public purse following completion of the work by Appledore after Hall Russell went into receivership was 31.8 million.

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on  (a) funding of an airport on the island of St. Helena,  (b) the replacement of RMS St. Helena,  (c) the comparative economic benefits to the island's economy from each form of access by (i) sea and (ii) air and (d) the cost to the public purse of the subsidy to sustain the (A) population and (B) economy of St. Helena; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: Routine discussions have taken place with Treasury at official level from April 2008.

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consideration he has given to the procurement of a vessel to replace RMS St. Helena.

Michael Foster: The option of replacing the RMS St. Helena was considered as part of Atkins' 2005 feasibility study.
	No decision will be taken on whether to replace the RMS St. Helena pending the completion of the public consultation we announced on 16 March.

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on  (a) repairs to and  (b) maintenance of RMS St. Helena in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (i) renewal, (ii) refurbishment, (iii) repairs and (iv) maintenance for each of the remaining years of the vessel's anticipated life.

Michael Foster: Annual maintenance costs (including repairs) for the RMS St. Helena over the last 10-years are set out in the following table. These do not include consumables (paint etc.).
	
		
			   Maintenance/repair cost () 
			 1999-2000 (1)380,000 
			 2000-01 (1)420,000 
			 2001-02 463,000 
			 2002-03 512,000 
			 2003-04 (2)939,000 
			 2004-05 556,000 
			 2005-06 540,000 
			 2006-07 (2)925,000 
			 2007-08 707,000 
			 2008-09 (2)1,079,000 
			 (1) Estimated costs as accounts not broken down. (2) Includes dry dock. 
		
	
	A replacement vessel is estimated to cost between 35 million and 75 million, depending on the country of origin.
	An additional capital investment of approximately 2.5 million in 2009-10 would be required for refurbishment the engines and for repairs to essential steelwork to extend the working life of the ship to around 2015.
	In addition to this, annual maintenance costs are expected to be of the order of 1.2 million per annum (inclusive of annual dry dock required to maintain certification).

RMS St. Helena

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of a replacement vessel for RMS St. Helena.

Michael Foster: Estimates carried out during the 2005 feasibility study and updated in 2007 put the cost of a replacement vessel at between approximately 35 million and 75 million, depending on the country of origin. No decision will be taken on whether to replace the RMS St. Helena pending the completion of the public consultation I announced on 16 March.

St. Helena: Airports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to visit St Helena before reaching a decision on the possible construction on an airport on the island.

Michael Foster: The ministerial team have no plans to visit St. Helena.